Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of June 3, 1875

Overview

R. spent the day buried in correspondence, including a sharp rebuke to Herr Levi for bragging about a gratuity for the Munich musicians. The Frl. Lehmanns are doing splendidly, but after work with Herr Unger he seems subdued rather than inspired; later the house was brightened by a letter from a Dutch admirer, news from Sainton, and an evening visit from Herr Rubinstein, who played his own arrangement of the Venusberg music.

Content

Thursday, June 3:

R. engaged in extensive correspondence. Among other things, he writes reprovingly to Herr Levi, who is boasting of having secured a gratuity for the musicians who will be coming to Bayreuth from Munich!! “If he weren’t so clever, how stupid!” The two Frl. Lehmanns are behaving magnificently.... I always find R. very melancholy after study with Herr Unger, neither fire nor gay spirits.... Nice letter from a Dutchman. Also from his old friend Sainton.

In the evening Herr Rubinstein with Herr Unger; the former plays us his arrangement of the Venusberg music.