Sunday, July 2:
Start! Orchestral sounds heard again, R. says some friendly words to the orchestra, but dealing with masses of people wears him out. Materna and many others as well. The orchestra entirely lacks style, the players are unschooled, R. feels that very strongly, but there is no embarrassing hitch, the first act is played through satisfactorily.
At home I find the news that the King is not coming! I tell this to R. after lunch, and he thinks the exhibition in Nuremberg is to blame. At 5 o'clock rehearsal of the first act with piano, the entire company on stage! (In the morning, after the orchestra rehearsal, we saw all the Flower Maidens assembled in one room - they made a charming sight.) A glorious impression! Celestial, in fact - blessedness brought to life! Herr Scaria wonderful as Gurnemanz, Herr Reichmann very moving as Amfortas, and everyone without exception so earnest, so absorbed in it, a unique occasion. Afterward a gathering in the "Blue Moor" - that is what R. has now christened the tavern, on account of the doorman from the West Indies, who has been given a gleaming royal Bavarian livery.
We return home around 10 o'clock in pouring rain, R. satisfied, I deeply, deeply moved! I believe it was the divine will that he should refine his art to this expression of it.