Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 6, 1876

Overview

Practical chores dominate the day: lessons for the children, shopping, calls, and housing troubles. In the evening she and Wagner turn back to the Ninth Symphony sketches, which fascinate him, and he ranges from Schiller to Berlioz in his remarks. The note of the day is clear-eyed disdain for mediocrity in art and admiration for genius alone.

Content

Saturday, May 6:

Lessons for the children, shopping and calls, accommodation troubles. Conversed with R. in the evening. Sketches of the Ninth Symphony highly interesting.

He abandoned the immortal Schiller; in his place Berlioz took up le divin Shakespeare. All the same, Berlioz, so to speak, more cultivated than Beethoven, but against stupidity in art there is no protection except genius.