Monday, May 9:
My grandmother's and my brother's birthday. R. did not have a very good night. We drive to the scenery rehearsal and from there to Herr Niemann, whom R. wants to take over Siegmund, since Vogl is to keep Siegfried. Since he is not at home, R. writes on a scrap of paper, 'Siegmund I am, since Niemann is singing me after all.'
We then drive home, and R. reads to me the beginning of Ch. 3 in Volume 4 of Gobineau, which pleases him very much - it revives thoughts in him of his 'Herodom and Christianity.' Götterdämmerung in the evening; despite all the deficiencies in the acting, R. and I are very moved by it; with Brünnhilde's last words we are leaning against each other, my head on his arm, and he exclaims to me, 'What we go through together!'
He goes on stage and makes a speech. We stay up together for a long time. (The Crown Prince wished to see R. in his box, R. begs to be excused.)