Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 7, 1872

Overview

R. advised Svendsen to favor calm, unmistakable musical ideas rather than eccentricity that needs a dramatic explanation to make sense. Richter spent the morning with us, then went into town with R. during a severe thunderstorm, after which the evening was filled with music and delight in Chopin. A flattering letter from Cologne also reached us, though the writer still hoped R. would set a poem by Geibel in order to prove he could write to another poet's words.

Content

Wednesday, August 7:

Yesterday R. earnestly advised Herr Svendsen to choose for his instrumental music motives and themes as serene as possible; otherwise one searches around too much for the subject and overlooks the music; eccentricities need the drama to explain them.

Richter had breakfast with us. In the afternoon R. goes into town with him; very severe thunderstorm. In the evening our musicians. Delight in works by Chopin.

Letter from a lady in Cologne, very enthusiastic, but she begs R. to set a poem by Geibel to music, to prove that he can write music to the works of other poets.