Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 20, 1871

Overview

Cosima has to pass Marie Schleinitz's discouraging Bayreuth concerns to Wagner, who reacts with anger and a renewed determination to appeal beyond those circles. His bad mood and indisposition are later countered by a stream of visitors, including Grammann, who wants to help actively with Bayreuth. A promising letter from Hugo von Sanger about patronage certificates turns the day back toward practical hope.

Content

Wednesday, September 20:

In the morning I have to inform R. of Frau von Schleinitz’s misgivings about the laying of the foundation stone. R. is very put out: “From these circles I can expect nothing more; I must turn to others and show them that I am in earnest.” I find nothing more terrible than when I have to speak a discouraging word to him; between him and the world no understanding is possible, it is just a battle, in which he must either conquer or be defeated.

At lunch he is indisposed and in a bad mood. In the afternoon many visitors: all three of the Schleinitz family; Countess B. with a man from Luebeck, Herr Grammann, who wishes to take a very active part in Bayreuth affairs and who prepared the welcoming banner in Leipzig.

When all have departed I return to the children; meanwhile R. receives a letter from a Herr Hugo von Sanger in Geneva, who wants to take up several certificates of patronage for himself and some Russian families. So the day was in fact very positively Bayreuthian.