Tuesday, May 13:
Several nice letters following a good night for R., who says Parsifal drove away his headache. He finishes his article, because his paper ran out, he says, which was fine, since otherwise one thing would have led to another.
Visit of a Frenchman, Herr Seignobos, a very singular person; he loves Munich, hates Paris, but also the German universities, with which he has been given the task of familiarizing himself, admires the Nibelungen - in short, an original character! He lunches with us. Afterward I receive Herr Fricke, the ballet master, an unexpected meeting with R.! Embarrassed excuses, but a very good atmosphere finally achieved. At 6:30 R. reads his article “Shall We Hope?” to us (Seignobos, Wolz., me).
In the evening joined by the ballet master and Rubinstein. Reminiscences of earlier times with Herr Fricke, Rosalie as La Muette, for example. Then one of Herr Rub.’s “Pictures” and Beckmesser’s song with an ending. When Wolz. inquires what to do about the circular, R. says it should be abandoned this year, but he would very much like young musicians to be invited along: in this way the school would in time become established. Herr Schon has subscribed 10,000 marks and offers 500 marks annually.
[Added later: “A nice example of Lusch’s presence of mind: the Frenchman asks why R. did not compose a ballet for the second act of Tannhäuser, for then everything would have been all right. R. at first offended, then angry; the Frenchman becomes confused, until Lusch whispers in her father’s ear, ‘Papa, he is speaking ironically’ - which turns the whole conversation into a jocular vein.”]