Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of July 20, 1870

Overview

Wagner begins the day by connecting Bruennhilde's awakening music to an intimate memory of Cosima's dreaming hand, showing how personal perception still shapes his art. While he starts work on the Beethoven essay, Cosima manages lessons and states her wartime position plainly to one of the French guests. A crowded day of meals, Ring scenes, Siegfried, and Herrig's patriotic letter places artistic labor and national crisis side by side.

Content

Wednesday, July 20:

In the morning R. exclaims to me: “Do you know what I was thinking of in that great arpeggio at Brünnhilde’s awakening? Of the movement of your fingers in a dream, when your hand glides through the air. That’s why I am still not satisfied with it.”

Lessons with the children, while R. begins on his Beethoven. To one of the Frenchmen I explain concisely my attitude toward the war.

Full table at dinner; before it the Norns’ scene, later in the evening Wotan and Fricka; in between, presentation of Siegfried.

Very fine letter from Dr. Herrig, who in true German manner welcomes the war wholeheartedly, yet looks with apprehension on the outcome. R. replies to him at once.