Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 15, 1876

Overview

Herr Siehr pleased R. in rehearsal and was engaged for Hagen, giving one of the day’s few satisfactions. The final rehearsal of Das Rheingold, however, was full of vexation: the rainbow bridge was wrong, the steam machinery failed, and Brandt could not produce the right vapors because of economy warnings from management. The Bruckner brothers had also painted in such haste that the decorations were permanently flawed.

Content

Saturday, July 15:

Herr Siehr at rehearsal; R. satisfied with him, engages him for Hagen! In the evening, final rehearsal of Das Rheingold; many vexations for R. in the course of it. The rainbow bridge is wrong so far, the steam fails to work, because Herr Brandt, warned by the management committee about the need for economy, could not produce the proper vapors!

The Bruckner brothers have painted in haste, so there are ineradicable mistakes in the decorations!