Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of September 9, 1881

Overview

Wagner bids a warm farewell to Dr. Strecker and is then deeply moved by a visit to old friends the Pusinellis, embracing Frau Pusinelli with feeling as thoughts of their late mutual friend weigh on him. The emotional toll of the morning, compounded by a chest spasm and a draining visit from a critic, leaves him worn before the evening even begins. The performance of Preciosa disappoints with wrong tempi and stilted declamation, failing to do justice to the charming work.

Content

Friday, September 9:

R. had a good night, is satisfied with the business arrangements, and says goodbye to Dr. Strecker in a very friendly way.

At 12 o’clock he comes to Dr. Jenkins’s, and from there we go to the Pusinellis’, where we are expected. R. is greatly affected, embraces our good Frau Pusinelli very heartily, and talks feelingly about our loyal departed friend. On returning home, he has a chest spasm; the visit of the critic Dr. Hartmann wears him out, and we go, feeling somewhat worn out, to see Preciosa.

The performance of this charming work is disappointing, the tempi wrong, though, curiously enough, the march which the conductor had dragged is played correctly by the musicians on stage. The declamation is absurd throughout, much too “Israel,” and in consequence everything a masquerade.