Wednesday, April 19:
Richter the only one still with us; visit the theater together; most dismal of impressions, no progress!... Back at home, letter from Herr Jauner, delighted to get Die Walküre for Vienna (condition for Frau Materna!!), intends to start on scenery right away.
R. beside himself; and on top of that the contracts for the chorus singers we need have not yet been sent; everyone there rotten, treacherous. And so crude - despite indescribable efforts R. not yet at his goal here, and he is to desecrate his work in advance for the sake of Vienna!
Telegram from Herr Unger, he does not wish to come before Saturday; he is in Kassel with his fiancée! R. now knows nothing about the progress he has made. And at 3 o’clock a telegram from Frau Voggenhuber, she has been unable to free herself from her commitments and so will not be able to sing Sieglinde! All this in a single afternoon; R. observes that the easiest to bear is what Fate brings, but the treachery of human beings! Their crude enthusiasm.