Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 19, 1871

Overview

Morning rehearsal of Lohengrin, Meistersinger, and Tristan gives Cosima a sense of glorious spiritual liberation. Letters from the children reassure her, while she wanders Mannheim during Wagner's rest and receives another appeal from a military conductor seeking help. The Ritters arrive, the final rehearsal is wonderful, and the evening gathers Pohl, the Ritters, and Nietzsche around the tired, cold-ridden Wagner.

Content

Tuesday, December 19:

(Morning) rehearsal Lohengrin, Meistersinger, Tristan; glorious, utter liberation of the soul. Letters from the children, they are well. Wander through the dreary city while R. is resting. Visit from a conductor from Pressburg who went into the army and is now asking R. to help him! — Arrival of the Ritters, who had already seen R. in Würzburg. In the evening final rehearsal, wonderful. R., however, very tired, cannot sleep, and has a cold. — In the evening Pohl, Ritters, and Nietzsche.