Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 28, 1881

Overview

A morning of museum visits and a chance encounter with Siegfried sightseeing across Berlin give way to an afternoon performance of Siegfried that leaves Richard deeply disheartened — despite the audience's undiminished enthusiasm, the uneven execution makes him feel his confidence in his own work is being steadily undermined. His only real pleasure of the day comes from finishing the Count's book rather than anything experienced on the stage.

Content

Saturday, May 28:

A good night. I walk with Daniela to the photographer's, since her father has complained of having received no picture of her! From there to the Museum of Applied Arts and the New Museum, where we suddenly meet Siegfried, who is out seeing all the sights of Berlin.

Lunch in the hotel with our good Seidl. Then to Siegfried, some of it good, much not, the enthusiasm still as great as ever. R. sad, says he is gradually being made to lose confidence in his work. His pleasure today lies in finishing the Count's book. Yesterday he said of the Berlin population that it contains much race grise [mixed race] with red noses.