Wednesday, September 13:
R. had a good night and continues with his signatures. A lawyer, Herr Josephsthal, has been sent here by Herr Batz, and because of this there is once more in the afternoon a conference for R. with Dr. Meyer and Feustel. In the evening, as so often before, he plays something from Der Freischütz, including the part of Max’s aria with the words “Wenn sich rauschend Blätter regen” [“When the rustling leaves are stirring”]. When he praises its peculiarly graceful lyricism, I tell him that in style it reminds me a little of Beethoven’s songs, and he agrees with me, plays and sings An die ferne Geliebte to our very great delight. The only thing he deplores in it is the brilliant concert ending. All kinds of curious letters, including one from Frl. Uhlig, who offers R. his original letters for 3,000 marks. Then one from a Herr Langhans, who feels that Lohengrin contains a transgression of German hereditary law: Elsa would not have the right to offer him her country! Along with these are letters arriving daily from grateful schoolteachers to whom R. gave seats for Parsifal.