Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of February 19, 1872

Overview

After a good night, Wagner plays the first scene for a friend, but the reaction leaves that visitor so shaken that he cannot eat and is exhausted for the rest of the day. The conversation turns to education and to what Wagner sees as the defensive pattern of German history, with music as the rare positive achievement. He also dismisses Faust as more of a sketch than a completed artwork, and the day ends with a friendly gift from the dean of Bayreuth.

Content

Monday, February 19:

R., who had a good night, after breakfast plays the first scene to our friend, and that upsets him so much that the whole day through he can eat nothing and is very run down.

All the same, there is much discussion of the reform of educational establishments, also of the German character. “So far,” R. says, “we have been great in defense, dispelling alien elements which we could not assimilate; the Teutoburger Wald was a rejection of the Roman influence, the Reformation also a rejection, our great literature a rejection of the influence of the French; the only positive thing so far has been our music - Beethoven.”

“And Faust?” I ask. “It is really just a sort of sketch,” R. says, “which Goethe himself looked upon in puzzlement, as a curiosity - he himself did not consider it a finished work of art.”

The dean of Bayreuth sends his book Fax Vobis (on the reconciliation of Protestants and Catholics) with some very friendly words for me.