Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 18, 1869

Overview

A rehearsal with singers goes on while Cosima sits nearby with the Serovs, overcome by melancholy and heavy thoughts of Hans. Richard ends hoarse and Falstaffian from choral singing, and the day includes Goethe's Wanderjahre and irritation at the Munich theater's plan for a prologue instead of Lohengrin. Richard telegraphs the King asking for Lohengrin or Meistersinger, and the first notebook ends.

Content

Wednesday, August 18:

Up early; rehearsal with singers. I with the Serovs in the next room. Overwhelming feelings of great melancholy. Deep awareness that I may no longer look on anything in this world. Heavy thoughts of Hans.

R. in the evening in a Falstaffian state, as he says, hoarse from choral singing. Read the Wanderjahre.

To the many bright ideas of the Munich theater director belongs the commissioning of a prologue for the reopening of the theater. A prologue for a new stage! For that reason he has turned down the request of many friends for Lohengrin, and instead chooses Jessonda. R. telegraphs the King and asks for Lohengrin or Die Meistersinger.

[End of the first notebook of the Diaries.]