Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of April 19, 1875

Overview

Rehearsals dominated the day, beginning with a difficult and unruly session in which the musicians were resistant, disorganized, and openly awkward, even to the point of refusing to rehearse on the Day of Repentance. By evening the strain softened into a long lunch with Niemann and a gracious soiree at the Office of the Royal Household, leaving the day oddly balanced between chaos and charm.

Content

Monday, April 19:

R. tolerably well, had a good night, off to rehearsal at 10 o’clock; met at the door by Dr. Davidsohn, 40 desks unoccupied; walk with R., breakfast in the Passage, back to the Konzerthaus at eleven, a rebellious rabble of players, conflicting pitches (Court orchestra and Bilse orchestra), the players refusing to rehearse on the Day of Repentance, hats on their heads, cigars in their mouths, horn players unable to play the tuba, etc. Will the concert take place??

Niemann invites us to lunch, which lasts until 4 o’clock; R. is in good spirits. In the evening a soiree in the Office of the Royal Household, very nice and pleasant.