Monday, July 3:
In the morning R. discusses with me the King's decision not to come, and he says he intends to write to Herr v. Buerkel. However, he does not find time; first of all a visit from Herr Winkelmann, and then a conference with the poor little ballet master (Fricke), greatly aged! Lunch with the two Kundrys and Klingsor goes so well that R. exclaims to Jouk. and Stein: "They are real people! You" - to Jouk. - "have been spending all your time with elegant donkeys, and you" - to Stein - "with educated ones!" Rehearsal at 5 o'clock (voice and piano); R. asks the people to pay attention to his rhythms: "I think I have got them right; I may have composed badly, but my rhythm is good." He is extraordinarily merry and keeps putting new heart into his singers with his high spirits. At supper we are all merry together; he talks about his previous life, the revolution in Dresden, the happiness for him of no longer being a conductor - "no wine is as intoxicating as this feeling." Winkelmann's letter arrives. We cannot help remarking how little this accords with the letter to Herr Schon, published today! After having written a few lines to Herr Wink., R. sets out, and surprises the good and simple man, whom R. soon brings around by telling him that all he wanted was to return his call, and was obliged to come so late since he would be leaving in the morning!
Tuesday, July 4:
R. shows me a touching letter from one of the ladies in our chorus. He soon goes off to the scenery rehearsal of the 1st act, which lasts from 9:30 to 2:30 and causes R. great, great vexation and much exertion. The props are missing, the chorus leaders know nothing, the poor lady choristers have to stand in the rigging loft in the most terrible heat. We put off the little dinner we had arranged. R. takes a short rest, and at 5 o'clock there is an orchestra rehearsal (1st act) with the singers; this does not tire R., since he has had a slot inserted in the hood over the orchestra and is thus able to converse with the conductor in comfort; he is satisfied with the sound of the invisible orchestra.
We spend the evening with Jouk., Stein, and Levi, and R. tries to show the latter how to wield the baton, since he finds that he conducts much too much with his arm, whereas it should all be done with the wrist! The evening passes harmoniously; in the morning, after the vexatious rehearsal, I told him what an overwhelming impression everything made, every movement, every sound, the smallest detail in the acting, and thus I succeeded in making him forget the vexations and recall the period of creation; in the evening I cannot help making a similar exclamation, and he says to me, "We have done a lot together." He then recapitulates it all and goes on to ask, "Why didn't you say to me at that time (1838), 'I wish to live with nobody but you'? Then I should have known what to do. But throughout my life love has never been offered to me directly; I was lacking in self-confidence, exactly like Tristan - but how was it with you?" He gradually drifts off to sleep, and we find it very comical when, after sleeping for about 2 minutes, he suddenly calls out "Tante Schinkel," having seen her in the Flower Garden.