Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 9, 1877

Overview

Children, walking, and play filled the earlier part of the day, but the mood sharpened once civic and artistic planning came into focus. A compromise emerged around the festival and school idea, even as R. resisted being forced into action by financial pressure.

Content

Tuesday, January 9:

Worked with the children, went for a walk, and played. In the evening the mayor and friend Feustel agree that Richard's idea of establishing a school (so that he can first train his singers here) is a very good one, but they ask permission to take steps toward announcing the festival.

R. very agitated: "I don't want to be obliged to stage a festival just on account of the deficit." But he gives way in the end.