Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 18, 1883

Overview

A late massage disrupts the household and a misguided decision to remove all fur coverings leaves everyone frozen, contributing to a lunch full of vexation that brings Cosima to tears. A long afternoon sleep restores Wagner, and the evening passes more pleasantly with another massage and a continued reading of Don Carlos, which he now finds delightful rather than overrated—particularly praising King Philip's soliloquy as Shakespearean in quality. He closes by playing the opening horn theme of Der Freischütz at the piano, reflecting on what that work once meant to him.

Content

Thursday, January 18:

R. dreamed that Minna saw him weeping and that she was overjoyed — thinking it was on her account — and made such a clatter with the coffee machine that he thought she had gone mad. Then that we were both climbing a snow-covered mountain and had Rus with us on a lead!

The massage today is very late; with it came sunshine, so that R. thinks it is warm and has all the fur coverings removed — we all feel frozen. Our mood at lunch is as a result full of vexation, and more than once tears come to my eyes! R. is restored by quite a long sleep in the afternoon, and we stroll happily through our large suite, which he is delighted to have got back again. In the evening he has another massage, and it really does seem to do him good.

After supper he continues reading Don Carlos to us; he says that formerly he had overestimated its maturity, but now he takes delight in its splendid features. He describes King Philip's soliloquy as Shakespearean, and finds Don Carlos's excitement when he thinks the Queen has sent for him quite unique. Then he plays the opening theme (horns) of the Der Freischütz Overture; when we express our pleasure, he says, "Yes, what that meant to me!"