Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 16, 1875

Overview

The second orchestra rehearsal, centered on the second act, made a devastating impression and cost R. enormous effort, leaving her convinced that only Bayreuth could ever yield a truly worthy Tannhäuser. At dinner with the Duke of Meiningen, R. admired the old Wettin bearing in his face and spoke to him about staging Faust, though the Duke showed little interest; later they saw The Three Wise Men, a French play she judged excellently constructed and well staged by Jauner.

Content

Tuesday, November 16:

Second orchestra rehearsal (2nd act), shattering impression! But it cost R. a lot of trouble. Only in Bayreuth will he ever achieve a really good performance of Tannhäuser.

Dinner with the Duke of Meiningen; R. discovers in him something completely typical of the old house of Wettin, something firm, reserved, powerful about the features, which one could easily trace back to Widukind. In earlier times it would have served very well, but in the restricted circumstances of today it could degenerate into viciousness. R. finds the Prince very interesting on this account. He expounds to him his ideas on producing Faust; at the moment little interest in them.

[In the margin: “Visit from Marie Hohenlohe!”] Went to see The Two Wise Men, an excellently constructed French play, very well staged by Herr Jauner at the Carl Theater.