Monday, June 21:
Still in bed and weak, but worked with the children. In the night I was very worried that Hans might not have been able to get through the Tristan performance, and sent a telegram to Richter. The reply reads, “Bülow came to life during performance, afterward cheerful, calls of ‘Bülow stay,’ success tremendous.”
R. talks about the work and says that in it the cult of the earth goddess finds true expression; he feels as if he had thrown himself headlong into the paint pots and emerged dripping. He had had to make use of the richest resources of musical expression because the action of the drama is so simple. No one but a musician was in a position to explore such a subject to its very depths and remain at the same time attractive.
The children have lunch at my bedside. In the evening read one of Grimm’s fairy tales, “Meister Pfriem,” to the little ones. Later Eckermann with R.
Day and night I reflect on my reply to Hans; I intend to suggest that I come to Munich with the children and settle things with him there.