Annals for 1855:
Orchestration of ‘Valkyrie’ begun. — ‘A Faust Overture’ revised. — Mr Anderson in Zurich: Accept invitation of ‘Philharmonic Society’ in London for fee of £200. — February: Tannhäuser at Zürich Theatre: my extraordinary words of farewell at curtain call. — Again conduct (for last time). — 26 February leave for London. Paris: Kietz, Lindemann; Zychlinski. — 2 March: London. Prager and wife. 22 Portland Terrace. — Klindworth. — Sainton and Lüders. — Anderson. Hogarth. Costa. First concert (2 symphonies). Second concert: excerpts from Lohengr. (holy Graal!) Ninth Symphony: (hail thee joie)!” — Times (Davison). Athenaeum (Chorley). Anderson’s despair. — Easter; outings: Brighton. Richmond. Eduard Röckel: fish dinner Gravesend. Crystal Palace Sydenham. Dr Gerber and Eschenburg. Klindworth ill. — Semper in Kensington; little contact possible. — Dr Franck (from his son at Brighton) visit; remarkable conversation. Take leave of each other — for last time! (His fate.) — Prager. Sundays. Sainton — weekdays. Have perpetual cold. L. Napoleon in London (digs in ribs). Haymarket Theatre: ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Miss Curshman from New York. Adelphi Theatre: Fairy stories. ‘Shoal for tigers’. Olympic (?): “Yellow Dwarf’. — Marylebone: ‘Merry wifs o. W.’ City of London Theatre: ‘Bandits’ — Corsican Brothers. Audience. Henry VIII at Princess’s Theatre not possible. Covent Garden: Italians; ballet. — Bad cold. Suffer from climate — Change of concerts in view of press disfavour. Mr Lucas. Wyld. (New Philharmonia: C minor Symphony.) Exeter Hall: oratorios; Paulus. Messiah. Mr Potter (?): Macfarren symphony: steeplechase. — Benedict. — Ellerton. Dinner in University Club. — Berlioz (and lady) — Dinner at Sainton’s. 7th Concert with Tannhäuser Overture. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Lord Chamberlain. conversation. — Evening meal at my place with Berlioz. Since decline of London situation, after every concert: Sainton, Prager and Fr. Lüders (Lobster salad. Punch.) — Reading: Indian fairy stories. Dante. (Letters to and from Liszt.) (Ferd. Hiller at Rhine Music Festival.) — Very poor health; comfort: Orchestration of Valkyrie to half Act II. Klindworth arranging. — Night walk: policeman. Regent Park path. Zoological Garden. Hindu. — Merchant Beneke and family in Camberwell; dinner. (Mendelssohn’s ‘rich mind’.) Encounter Meyerbeer at Howard’s (Fétis. Gazette Musicale.). 8th Concert: hearty farewell. Family banquet: 26 June, evening, departure with hangover. (Crossing.) Paris. (Pleasant impression.) Kietz. Wesendonck: journey back with him. Basle — heat.) — 30 June: arrival in Zürich. Highly pregnant state. Very poorly and ill tempered. London profit 1000 francs. — Decide to go to Seelisberg: Peps frail; severe agony, moving devotion. Dies 10 July, 1.10 a.m. — Burial in Frau Stocker-Escher’s little garden. — — Next day to Seelisberg. Hornstein. Fair copy of Valkyrie orchestration; cheering. Schopenhauer. Liszt’s visit postponed. Mid-August back to Zürich. — Tannh. in Munich. Dingelstedt. — New study of Schopenhauer, also minor writings. His opinion of me (Poem of Nibelung’s Ring sent previously.) Berlioz’s letter. — Karl Ritter arrives and settles in Zürich. Unpleasant and capricious. Nasty, erratic state of mind, especially towards Wesendoncks. Sponsorship refused because unlucky. Since autumn frequent recurrence of erysipelas. Ask Liszt not to pay visit as constantly unwell. — _ Complete withdrawal from concerts. — With great breaks, through illness, work on Valkyrie. — Tristan conceived in more definite form: Act III point of departure of mood for whole. (with weaving in of Grail-seeking Parzival).