Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 28, 1875

Overview

Vienna still feels harder and harder to face, especially after the second-act decorations arrive looking absurd and Jauner thrusts Frau Wilt forward for Elisabeth. They try to shake off Voltz and Batz, take a walk together, and spend the evening reading about Parsifal; R. is particularly taken with an interpretation of the Fisher King as the sinner king, Amfortas. A visit to Captain Schenk adds a sad note, and the thought that Hans may already be on the sea leaves her deeply pained.

Content

Tuesday, September 28:

The resolve to go to Vienna grows ever more difficult to mention; the decorations for the second act have arrived, looking as if they had been concocted by a bookbinder and a confectioner combined. On top of that Herr Jauner offers us Frau Wilt, known for her colossal figure, as Elisabeth. Attempts to get away from Messrs. Voltz and Batz.

Walk with R. In the evening read Parsifal, joy in the great poet; R. believes that the 'fisher king' comes from a misunderstanding of the word pecheur, and that it should really be the 'sinner king', that is to say, Amfortas.

Today we visited our good Captain Schenk, who has been victimized for the capriciousness of his lieutenant. Recently, as he was getting into bed, R. exclaimed, 'Good that we are not on the high seas!' It went like a dagger through my heart that Hans is now probably on his way.