Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 15, 1878

Overview

Wolzogen’s new membership figures brighten the day by showing real financial support for the Society of Patrons, and his memorandum for the Blatter is well received. That hope is offset by fresh distress over Hans’s hostile letter, ongoing worries around Walküre performances, and the diarist’s sense that Richard’s darker mood may stem from money troubles despite the beauty of the music he shares that evening.

Content

Tuesday, January 15:

Our friend Wolzogen works out the membership statistics of the Society of Patrons, according to which we possess about 11,000 marks! In the evening he reads us his memorandum for the Blatter, which, apart from a few stylistic blemishes, is excellent. Dismay over a letter from Hans with an enclosure; R.'s letter deliberately misinterpreted! I reply to Hans that it would indeed have been better to remain silent but from the very start! R. has been working: "No more Eulalia," he says!

I suggested to Herr Feustel that the royalties from Die Walküre in Schwerin be put toward the deficit. Talked about Die Walküre, the performances of which seem fated to bring us sorrow! In the evening R. plays us the "Grail March" and sings "Amfortas's Lament." He seems to me to be in a somewhat bad mood; I fear it is due to financial worries.