Thursday, July 22:
Constant rehearsing. R. is very worn out by it. Herr Jauner departs in great excitement after talking to me about his plan to produce the Ring cycle in the Prater as an Austrian folk festival. I write to my father about it. Jauner is full of astonished admiration for R. at rehearsals. Unfortunately his feet are hurting him; he can hardly set them on the ground! Vexing arrival of a journalist who, though full of good will, is tactless enough to talk of winning over the Kreuzzeitung. R. also has difficulties making his singers persevere quietly here. He talks of the sacrifices I am making for him in opening my house every day to company which is not mine, and he says that with me he can do anything, without me nothing! Arrival and erection of the huge bust of the King.