Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 30, 1878

Overview

Morning conversation turns bitterly toward Germany’s failure to support Richard despite all he has achieved. He later attends to letters and staging advice, but the day closes more tenderly when he tells the diarist that she is the reason he believes in God.

Content

Wednesday, January 30:

When I say to R. in the morning that it is at any rate a good thing the French no longer have a say in foreign affairs, he replies, “But what have we to show, we Germans?” He recalls the behavior of the people and of the princes toward him, how none of them are following him, supporting him; after carrying through the festival in spite of all difficulties, what does he now get but silence?

In the evening R. inks in his work after writing a few letters, among them one to Herr Pollini, saying he should present Rheingold at the same time as Walküre and not after it. In the evening W. Scott.

R. looks in on me when he returns from his walk and says, “You are a gift from Heaven; it’s because of you that I believe in God!”