Annals for 1853:
3 January: Death of Uhlig. Papa Fischer’s account. — Printing of ‘Nibelung’s Ring’ (50 copies). Doctor retained: Dr Rahn-Escher. Reassuring treatment. Family life. Symphony perf. and rehearsals. (Coriolanus.)— Vieuxtemps. Belloni. — Mid-February: reading of Nibelung poem on four consecutive evenings; Baur assembly room. (Cold: weak tea.) Many people. Beginning March: ‘Wagner Week’ in Weimar. — Efforts to vitalize Zürich Music Society. ‘A Theatre in Zürich’. — More commodious apartment, Escher-houses, front; beautifully furnished. — Silk furniture and curtains. Liszt: ‘petite elegance’ — Frau Stocker-Escher. Wall-papers. Grand performance of my fragments, with descriptive programme: 18, 20 and 22 May (40th birthday). Frau Heim. Becher. — Banquet: Ott-Usteri. — Emilie and Julie Ritter. Wesendoncks away on travels. Sonata. — June: outing with Minna and Peps over the Brünig (rain) Brienz, Interlaken: Ritter’s visit. Otto Kummer. Bad weather; everything gone wrong. 1 July back via Bern: glorious weather. Liszt come to Zürich on visit: stays ten days. Symphonies. Poetry. Herwegh. Outing; Grütli (3 springs). Beds at Brunnen. — After his departure torch-light procession in the Zeltweg. Speeches. — End July with Herwegh via Chur to St Moritz (Julier). Engadine. Unpleasant spring-cure: Goethe’s Elective Affinities. Letters about Wiesbaden performance of Lohengrin; excursions: Maloja. Bernina, Poschiavo. Rosegg Glacier. — Trouble with Herwegh. — Mid-August back with Herwegh by same route. — Wesendonck back. Project for Italian journey progressing. Mood for it. End August: Geneva. (Gen: Klapker. Adler.) Chambery: special post coach. (Village of cretins.) Mont Cenis. Turin. — Railway to Genoa. Prince Sgaradine and wife; recommend her Liszt’s writing on Tannh. and Lohen. — Genoa: Fresco Palace. Sea bath-in harbour. Brignole Palace: Van Dyck. Villa Palavicini. Solitude: snow-water. Theatre: Ristori. Purchases for Minna. 3 days: then dysentery. Steamer to Spezia: nasty. Bad accommodation. Ill. On second day attempt walk; pine hill. Afternoon nap on sofa: awoke with conception of instrumental introduction to Rhinegold (E flat major triad): sinking amidst rushing of waters. Resolve immediately to turn back and begin work. Post route along Riviera: (Hungarian officer from Naples). Eight white bullocks: red rocks; bright green pines; deep blue sky and sea. At Genoa form hope of continuing journey: immediately ill again. Direct via Alessandria (dreadful post journey to Novara!). Lake Maggiore (glorious morning: Monte Rosa) home over St Gotthard. Mid-September. Minna at Baden am Stein: hot baths. Visit her often. Beginning October: Karlsruhe concert; rendezvous in Basle. Drei Könige Hotel. Entrance: Liszt, Bülow, Joachim, Cornelius, Pruckner, Pohl. — Next day: Princess Carolyne with daughter Marie. Reading: Siegfried. — To Strassburg. Cathedral. Some reading. With Liszt, Carolyne and Marie to Paris. Splendid rail journey: glass out of the window. (Macbeth.) — Hotel des Princes. Confusion of arrival. Boulevards. — Reading of Nibelung’s Ring continued. In between: Berlioz. J. Janin. Dinners. Theatre: nervous trouble; withdraw. — Rue Casimir Bovier. Liszt family. ‘Twilight of the Gods’ Act III. Madame Patersi. — Theatre: Sept merveilles du monde. — Erards: Muette. Opera. — Quartets in E flat major and C sharp minor. Maurin-Chevillard. Departure of Liszt, ‘Conductress’ and ‘Child’ after a week. Remain another week: Hotel des Italiens, boulevards. Minna comes. Kietz. Anders. (Tyszkiewicz jun.) — Wesendoncks. Dinner with me. Embarrassment for return journey. Dr Lindemann: laudanum; metals. Bad state of health. — End October back to Zürich. — Beginning November straight down to composition of Rhinegold: difficulty in sketching orchestral overture. Immersion; much joy: state of health better. —