Thursday, May 2:
R. had a good night and is in cheerful spirits; morning walk in the splendid park. Wrote some letters. Family lunch.
Then with the children to Bayreuth, visit to Frau Feustel and Frau Muncker, inspection of our site, then of the house we are to rent. At the post office, a letter from Berlin has arrived; also received a letter from Vreneli.
Went into the opera house. Splendid impression, the proscenium taken out by R., the building revealed in all its original glory. Very moved by the knowledge that all these preparations and provisions are being made for the sake of Beethoven's splendid work; its creator could certainly never have dreamed of it!
R. told me that on my arrival the melody from the first movement had come into his mind and he had said to himself, "You have never done anything like that." He reminds me that, when we visited the opera house last year, I had said to him: "Impossible for the Nibelungen, but how fine for concerts!" "You see, I do everything you say," he adds!
Home around 7 o'clock. There had been music at the Fantaisie; they had played the Tannhäuser March, and since she much regretted not having heard it, Lusch went down with our permission and asked for it again. They played it, but unfortunately like a march of "hollow priests," as R. puts it.
We go out on the balcony with Fidi, and R. remembers having seen Weber in the same way with his child. Fidi very impressed and handsome, but he has a swelling on his head from falling off the sofa.
Conversation with R. in the evening. The patrons have not yet all been identified; very bad behavior from Baron Loen, who does not reply. Spite or negligence? My father? R. says the Wesendoncks are also not to be found on any list, and he remarks, "It is really humiliating when one assumes that people will behave well and are on one's side, and then suddenly receives proof of the contrary."
Blots by Lulu. This refers to ink blots over the whole page.