Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 26, 1875

Overview

By Sunday Wagner was fully recovered and reading Parival, where he reflected on how modern epic poetry revels in description in a way unlike the ancient Greeks. In the theater, Unger sang parts of Siegfried with enough strength and flexibility to sustain Wagner’s confidence, and the day ended with practical worries about legal trouble in Düsseldorf and the ever-present question of money, even as she replied to her mother that Germany could not match her rosy view of France.

Content

Sunday, September 26:

R. entirely recovered; reads Parzival, discovers in the work the play with descriptions which so greatly distinguishes the modern epic poem from Virgil to Byron, from the ancient Greek form.

In the afternoon to the theater, Herr Unger sings parts of Siegfried (final scene); the voice pliant and full, the enunciation very good, some flaws still remain, but I quite definitely share R.’s belief that he is capable of improvement.

In the evening a final discussion, R. intends to see how far he can get with the opera director in Düsseldorf, probably there will be damages to pay—where to find the money? Perhaps a concert in Vienna?

I reply to my mother that I cannot give her such good news of Germany as she gives me of France; the best thing about the Germans is at any rate their dissatisfaction! ...