Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of October 30, 1876

Overview

They spent the day in fine weather visiting Malwida with the children, while R. found refuge in Sismondi and a walk from the weight of his thoughts. Both admitted to keeping quiet at times simply to avoid sharing the gloom that lay over their present troubles and their past. The evening brought more reading, along with unwelcome news from Bayreuth about Siegfried’s "Funeral March" and other disagreeable reminders.

Content

Monday, October 30:

Visit to Malwida with the children, in splendid weather. R. is constantly reading Sismondi, with much enjoyment. We go for a walk in the afternoon. He is, as he tells me, grateful for everything which distracts him from the round of thoughts so oppressing him. We admit to each other that we frequently keep silent just in order not to have to impart to each other our gloomy thoughts concerning the present situation and all our past experiences.

In the evening we read some of Herr v. Hagen’s writings. R. has been looking through San Marte’s Parsifal in search of names, but he says it is very abstruse and of no use at all. Telegram from Judith [Mendes-Gautier], saying, “Tremendous success of Siegfried’s Funeral March at Pasdeloup’s, with fights and two duels.” Herr Unger also writes, a reminder of distasteful things!