Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 5, 1872

Overview

They packed up and left early with Kathchen, while the children's restrained farewells worried R. despite the earlier instruction not to cry. The train journey was mostly smooth until a long wait in Schwandorf, made worse by the silent stares of bystanders, and R. spent the delay drafting plans for the ceremony on the 22nd. In the meantime they listened to talk of Berlioz and Schumann, with R. contrasting Schumann's inwardness with Berlioz's powerful but only partly deep impressions from the world.

Content

Sunday, May 5:

Packed; Käthchen is coming with us. The children’s goodbyes are cool, which worries R., though I had indeed forbidden them to cry too much. Left at five o’clock; the mayor with his wife at the station. Good journey as far as Schwandorf, but there a wait of 1 1/2 hours. The unpleasant, silent gaping of the people.

R. does not sleep, drafts his plans for the ceremony on the 22nd. Berlioz melodies; the difference between B. and Schumann, the latter getting impressions only from works, none at all from life, Berlioz very strong impressions from the world, if no very heartfelt or deep ones; he is a mirror, if only a small and broken one.