Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 16, 1882

Overview

Medicine, correspondence, and an unwelcome visitor leave R. in an irritable state, especially when Paris and theatrical ventures are discussed. He finds some relief in etchings, Beethoven, and an evening of music, though little gives him unqualified pleasure.

Content

Monday, January 16:

R. takes medicine today and reads Marc Aurèle, but without pleasure. After lunch we deal with various letters which have just arrived, one, for example, from Herr Neumann about his various enterprises. An interruption by a visitor vexes R. greatly. He replies to Herr N. and advises him to drop Paris, which arouses in him nothing but disgust. Then he looks at the book of etchings which Siegfr. has received as a present (a few days ago I found him at breakfast enchanted by the page devoted to Lucas van Leyden: Joseph interpreting the dreams).

Music in the evening: the two last movements of the C Minor Symphony, not entirely to R.’s satisfaction, and the “Picture” of Siegmund and Sieglinde, the construction of which pleases him. Reports of the von Bülow concerts in Berlin sound very favorable.