Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of March 7, 1874

Overview

Administrative frustrations filled the day, from governess troubles to demands placed on the singers and the management’s impatience about the timetable. R. responded with long, practical letters, but his irritation was obvious, and even a sad plea for sympathy failed to move him. Their attention stayed fixed on the demands of the project and on who genuinely mattered to them.

Content

Saturday, March 7:

Governess affairs.

R. writes to Niemann and Betz; then also to other singers (Hill, etc.); the state of the male ensemble is good, but with the women the situation is bad. In the evening R. is upset by an official letter from the management committee, asking him to keep to the year 1875 and to give concerts to this end! R. answers in great detail and also raises the question of accommodations for the patrons coming here. In the evening read Gibbon.

(Sad letter from Frau v. Meyendorff, my father seems to have deserted her; R. feels no sympathy for her, he says that only genuine relationships arouse his concern.)