Cosima's Diaries

Overview

Wagner’s bad night sends him into the garden at dawn to listen and make raven studies, leaving him exhausted and Cosima full of omen-like fears after a bat and Fidi’s continued hoarseness. The children’s visit to Countess Bassenheim for a birthday, including Eva’s first invitation, keeps family life moving. The evening returns to Wallenstein, giving the troubled day a literary close.

Content

Tuesday, May 17:

R. had a very bad night, got up, ran out into the garden, listened to the dawn, made “raven studies” (but it croaked horribly), and in the end felt very wretched. Yesterday evening a bat flew around him, which alarmed me considerably. Fidi still hoarse; I take the children to Countess Bassenheim’s, her little daughter’s birthday, Eva invited for the first time. In the evening read Wallenstein with R.