Tuesday, May 21:
Morning rehearsal, many Bayreuth people in my box, but friends, too, among them Dr. Standhartner, who has come all the way from Vienna. Johanna Jachmann gives no pleasure and does the occasion no honor, since she does not even know her part. Lusch and Boni at the rehearsal.
It goes well, indeed splendidly, R. very affected, but the musicians and all of us even more so, greatest triumph of genius!
At a moment of foreboding Schiller wrote his words to joy, which nobody perhaps understood until Beethoven came along and understood them and made us in moments of foreboding understand them, too; but ununderstood they remained until, in a sublime and foreboding moment, Richard made them resound in words and music.
All of us, so various in ourselves, were assembled here in a single faith and hope! Niemann kisses R.'s hand; Betz has not yet quite achieved the accents R. wants for Freunde, nicht diese Töne (trembling indignation), but he is trying.
In the evening, driving home, we see columns of people making a pilgrimage to the Fantaisie; singers of both sexes in open farm wagons, since there is nothing else to be had. The choral society sings a serenade to R. We go down to join the people, which pleases them greatly, and, although he is hoarse, R. speaks a few words to them in his uniquely affecting way.
In our apartments upstairs many friends, and we part in a general mood of joyous uplift.