Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of June 27, 1874

Overview

The household is busy preparing the hall for its consecration while more theatrical personnel arrive, including machinist Brandt and the singer Scaria. Scaria begins singing Hagen’s music at once, but because he lacks the text Wagner has to read it to him, underscoring how much labor still goes into turning the drama into performance.

Content

Saturday, June 27:

Quite a lot of things all at once: furnishing of the hall, which is to be consecrated today; visit from the machinist Brandt, arrival of the singer Scaria (Hagen), and visit from Frau Loper, back from Karlsbad. Herr Scaria sings some of Hagen’s music straightaway, but since he knows nothing of the text, R. reads it to him (Götterdämmerung). Curious the dealings with these implements!