Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 12, 1876

Overview

A telegram from America reported that the march had been a great success, and new delegates arrived, including Baligand and Lesimple. Yet the day also exposed how poorly Bayreuth support had been managed, with long delays, a canceled old piece, and a last-minute substitution that seemed to undermine the whole effort. R. worried as well that choosing Frl. Scheffsky for Sieglinde may have been a mistake.

Content

Friday, May 12:

Telegram from America that the march was a great success. Arrival of individual delegates, Herr von Baligand, Lesimple. The former explains how it came about that, while R.’s operas always secure full houses, the performances in support of Bayreuth brought in only 300 thalers.

After the King had commanded the performance on Herr B.’s request, nothing happened for a long time. When reminded, the management canceled Falla Rookh (the worst attended of all the old pieces in the repertory) on the day of performance, on account of a singer’s illness, and substituted Tannhäuser, printing in small letters at the bottom of the poster, “For the purchase of certificates of patronage”!

R. is worried that he may have been foolish in choosing Frl. Scheffsky for Sieglinde.