Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 16, 1872

Overview

They were awakened by brass players performing the Meistersinger chorale and prize song, which made a powerful impression on R. and prompted a proud reminder of what he had once created. Conversations with Heckel and Brandt turned to the growing hostility around their enterprise and the almost fanatical devotion of its supporters. The evening then descended into embarrassment with Prof. Nohl’s dreadful reading, though the Mannheim Choral Society later restored some of the day’s dignity.

Content

Saturday, November 16:

We are awakened by the “Wach’ auf” chorale and the “Prize Song” from Die Meistersinger, played quite splendidly by the brass section of the orchestra. Wonderful impression! “That’s what I once did for you,” says R.

Talked a lot with Heckel about the present state of our undertaking, also with Brandt. It seems that innumerable disgraceful attacks are being made against it. Everyone agrees that nobody has ever been so much attacked as R., which is why his supporters tend to feel somewhat like religious fanatics.

In the evening a horrible reading by that chatterer Prof. Nohl, invited by the Wagner Society. Indescribable embarrassment. Following it, supper with the Heckels; before that yet another rendering, this time a very good one, by the Mannheim Choral Society.