Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of March 2, 1881

Overview

A bright, sun-warmed day finds Richard working at his score despite ongoing pain in his fingers, which the doctor visits but cannot meaningfully relieve. Their walk through the waterlogged palace gardens is more slog than pleasure, and when Richard comes upstairs singing the C Minor Symphony before supper he is deflated by finding an unexpected visitor with Cosima, which triggers another chest spasm. The evening turns literary — a first act of Calderón's La dama duende followed by leisurely browsing of a book on India — a quiet, cultured close to a day marked by small frustrations.

Content

Wednesday, March 2:

R. slept well, though he talked a lot in his sleep. It is a bright day, the sun already bringing us warmth. R. works on his score; but his fingers are still tormenting him, and the doctor, who comes today, seems unable to help at all.

Lusch’s letter, in which she describes her presentation at Court in connection with the wedding celebrations, amuses R. and me, too. We speak of it during our walk in the palace gardens, which is more wading than walking.

Before supper R. comes upstairs to my room singing the C Minor Symphony, but unfortunately he is vexed by a lady visitor who happens to be with me, and he again feels pains in his chest. In the evening we read the first act of Calderón’s La dama duende. Afterward we look at Schlagintweit’s book on India.