Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of March 3, 1875

Overview

R. visited Rubinstein and was pleased to hear him speak of wanting to return to Bayreuth. The evening’s soiree in Makart’s studio, given in R.’s honor, gathered an immense and glittering company, and the whole affair felt bright, cordial, and ceremonious, with everyone at their best.

Content

Wednesday, March 3:

R. calls on Rubinstein and is pleased to hear that he is longing to return to Bayreuth. Received calls, in the evening a soiree in Makart’s studio in R.’s honor: Count and Countess Andrassy, Count and Countess Szechenyi, Countess Festetics, lady in waiting to the Empress, who told me in the morning that for her R.’s art is like the creation of the world; Countess Wickenburg, Count Hoyos, Countess Wilczek, Prince Liechtenstein, the Standhartner family, the Liszt family, Herr and Frau von Angeli, Dr. Mosenthal, Prince Metternich, the Hellmesberger Quartet, Semper (whom R., seeing him for the first time in 8 years, does not at first recognize), Countess Dönhoff, Frau Wolter, and many others, perhaps 60 people in all. A pleasant occasion, everyone looking his best, face and clothes, and the general mood very cheerful.