Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 3, 1875

Overview

There is talk of staging Tannhäuser in Vienna with Materna, while the day is also marked by Rus’s burial and the family’s attempt to replace the loss with a mate he had already ordered. In the evening the writer departs for Vienna and reaches the Standhartners late after a tolerable night journey.

Content

Monday, May 3:

R. talks of a possible performance of Tannhäuser in Vienna, with Materna.

[A few words based on untranslatable wordplay omitted.]

At 12 o’clock, burial of Rus; when I told Fidi of his death, he said, “Oh, good heavens, what will his wife say when she comes?!” Fidi knew that we had ordered a mate for Rus.

At 5 o’clock we left for Vienna, a tolerable night journey; arrival at the Standhartners’ at 9.