Life and troubles at Magdeburg--Wagner marries--Minna Planer: the woman, her home, her trustful love--Reflections on his life at Magdeburg--His ability as a conductor of the orchestra and singers--Popularity of Auber and Rossini--Renewed trials at Königsberg, 1837--Success of Meyerbeer--Paris the ruler of German taste--Wagner’s ambition of going to Paris--Sends sketch of new libretto to Scribe--No answer--Writes an overture on “Rule Britannia,” and sends it to Sir George Smart--Not noticed--Wagner’s impressions of stage life after his experience at Würzburg, Magdeburg, and Königsberg--Visit to Dresden and “Rienzi”--Conductor at Riga, 1839--His difficulties increase--Paris the sole hope of relief--Resolves to go to Paris--Sets sail for London--“The Champagne Mill”--Arrival in London.....55
First impression--Puts up at cheap hotel in Old Compton Street, Soho--Loss and return of the dog--Visit to a house in Great Portland Street where Weber died--Thoughts on English character and London sights--Visit to Greenwich Hospital--Leaves by boat for Boulogne.....69
Passage to Boulogne--The Mansons, friends of Meyerbeer--Wagner’s visit to Meyerbeer--Character of Meyerbeer--Interests himself in the youthful Wagner--The reading of “Rienzi” libretto--Eulogium of Meyerbeer and promises of help--Meyerbeer feels his way to the purchase of the “Rienzi” book--Wishes Scribe to write one for him similarly spectacular--Wagner and his wife at a restaurant; champagne the “perfection of terrestrial enjoyment”--The Mansons advise him to stay in Boulogne--The “Rienzi” music pleases Meyerbeer, who also, to Wagner’s annoyance, praises his neat writing--The “Das Liebesverbot” draws further laudation from Meyerbeer, and the success of Wagner is prophesied--“Le petit homme avec le grand chien” leaves Boulogne for Paris.....78
The sanguine Wagner boldly invades Paris--Later reflections of the bitter sufferings he underwent there--Why he went to Paris--Germany offers no encouragement to native talent--Wagner has but a slight acquaintance with the French tongue--Seeks out Monsieur Louis, who becomes and remains his most devoted friend--With assistance of Louis, engages modest apartments--Endeavours to deliver his letters of introduction--Unsuccessful--Without occupation--His poverty--Help from Germany for a short time--Their sadly straitened circumstances--In absolute want--Writes for the press; Schlesinger--“A pilgrimage to Beethoven,” imaginary--He composes three romances, imaginary--Still in want, forced to the uncongenial task of “arranging” popular Italian operas for all kinds of instruments--Minna Wagner: her golden qualities and admiration of Wagner--Minna performs all the menial household duties--Bright and cheerful temperament soothes the disappointed, passionate Wagner--His birthday tribute--His subsequent acknowledgment of her womanly devotion--The artists he met in Paris--Heinrich Laube, an old Leipzic friend, introduces him to Heine--Meeting of the trio--Laube and Heine as workers--Schlesinger, music-publisher, becomes his friend--Schlesinger upon Meyerbeer--Wagner and Berlioz in Paris and London--The two compared--Wagner’s opinion of Berlioz and his agreement with Heine--Halévy--Vieuxtemps--Scribe--Kietz.....83