Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of June 29, 1874

Overview

A sleepless, sour day is made worse by poor preparation, stalled work, and discouraging reports about the singers we are considering. The only memorable moment is an American soprano who has traveled from New York to ask R. whether she truly has a voice, a scene both absurd and revealing.

Content

Monday, June 29:

No sleep, also a somewhat ill-humored day, since Scaria cannot work on account of Richter's lack of preparation; on top of that, the news about singers whom we have in mind is always dismaying. A lost day.

An American soprano with an aria by Donizetti has come all the way from New York to find out from R. whether she has a voice!