Cosima Wagner in Venice - 23 December, 1882

from My Musical Life, page 454:

On December 23, 1882, WAGNER conducted his earliest symphony at the request of a small circle of friends in celebration of MADAME WAGNER'S birthday. On taking the baton he turned to the musicians and - "This is the last time I shall ever conduct.' "Why?" they asked. "Because I shall soon die." This was not at all his usual mood; he spoke sometimes of living till ninety he said that he could hardly finish the work he had in his mind even then.

cite as

Hugh Reginald Haweis, My Musical Life (London, 1898), p. 454. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1437990390319 accessed: 18 April, 2024

location of experience: Venice

Listeners

Cosima Wagner
Wagner Festival director
1837-1930

Listening to

hide composers
Symphony in C Major
written by Richard Wagner
performed by Richard Wagner

Experience Information

Date/Time 23 December, 1882
Medium live
Listening Environment in the company of others, in private, indoors

Originally submitted by sp327 on Mon, 27 Jul 2015 10:46:31 +0100
Approved on Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:37:24 +0100