Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 26, 1880

Overview

A cheerful breakfast was followed by a drive to Ravello, whose beauty felt revelatory and suggested Klingsor’s garden from Parsifal. The rest of the day moved through villas, viewpoints, songs, and starry conversation, with R. noting in the visitors’ book that he had found something essential for the work.

Content

Wednesday, May 26:

Merry breakfast and drive to Ravello, lovely beyond description. Discovered Klingsor's garden in Ravello. Late breakfast at the Villa ... (?), then coffee with Mr. Reed's manager, whose wife, a Swiss, pleases us very much with her serious air, she reminds us of Vreneli.

Drive via Santa Chiara to the little pavilion, the view from Santa Chiara the loveliest, in my opinion. Rest, with songs from Pepino.

Meditative descent and lovely evening on the terrace, conversing about the stars, which glitter above us, and the moon, which looks down upon us, as it is claimed, "with swollen cheeks and foolish face." (In the book in Ravello R. wrote, "Have found the 2nd act of Pars.")