Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 17, 1872

Overview

Letters arrived from Lenbach, who would now begin Richard’s portrait, as well as from Nietzsche and Frau von Meyendorff. The day moved between garden life with the children, concern over Loldi’s inflamed eye, and a serious walk with J. Rubinstein that led into a deep discussion of Schopenhauer. Richard played Tristan in the evening, but the tempo seemed elusive to the musicians.

Content

Wednesday, July 17:

Letter from friend Lenbach; he will now start on R.’s portrait. The headmaster of a school in Eisleben sends R. an essay on medieval poetry, containing a seemingly very good chapter about Tannhäuser.

R. works, I in the garden with the children, still with the exception of Loldi, whose eye is still inflamed. In the afternoon letters from Prof. Nietzsche and Frau von Meyendorff, the latter, though trivial, suggesting the desire to maintain good relations.

A walk with J. Rubinstein; R. questions him about his study of Schopenhauer, which soon leads the conversation to very deep levels. I listen devoutly to R.’s teachings; who is not filled with a thirst for salvation? In the evening Herr R. plays Tristan. All these musicians seem to find it difficult to get the tempo right.