Sunday, November 28:
Business day [added in margin: “but first, festive day, R. accepts my little gift in a very kind and friendly way”]. First of all, friend Gross’s report that Voltz & Batz want 100,000 marks for selling back their rights; R. rejects all suggestions, wants to wait and see what happens.
Then Herr Neumann comes and reports that Herr v. Hülsen has offered him the opera house in Berlin, together with the orchestra and chorus and whatever singers he wants, for the King. R. much against it, wants to see it all done in the Viktoria Theater, though he leaves the decision up to the promoter; however, he promises to make a visit to the Viktoria Theater, but not to the opera house. The theater director asks for a certificate, which makes us laugh.
Very good report on Seidl’s activities, which pleases us greatly. In the evening a visit from Rub., discussion of the Jewish question and again of La Renaissance, with great praise from R. Our good theater director could not understand at all that R. should think nothing at all of the Emperor and royal family’s attending the performance of the Ring.
We compare Neumann’s energy and resourcefulness with Hülsen’s narrow-mindedness and vindictiveness and have to laugh over Israel’s predominance.