Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 4, 1869

Overview

Judith writes from Munich, but Catulle Mendes's article on Wagner's Lucerne house upsets Richard because it can discuss furniture but not Cosima, the children, or the real center of his life. The silence surrounding the King seems sinister, while Richard completes the third-act sketch. A woodland outing with the children in glorious weather lets Cosima associate the finest summer she can remember with Siegfried's birth.

Content

Wednesday, August 4:

A letter from Judith in Munich. In the evening also, unfortunately, an article by her husband: “La Maison de R. Wagner à Lucerne.” R. very upset by it. “The most important thing, my relationship with you and the children, they cannot mention, so they talk about the furniture.”

One hears no word about the King; even his excursions are no longer reported in the newspapers; very sinister. R. completes his sketch of the third act. After lunch with the children in the woods. Glorious weather; the finest summer I can ever remember has produced Siegfried.