As usual

Friday, February 2nd., Rue de Calais, Paris.

I went with the two Ullmans to "Fidelio" at the Opera Comique last night. The usual slightly hurried dinner and general excitement in order to get seats. And, the seats being got, the usual exit before the performance to have a cup of coffee in a neighbouring bar. The usual disgraceful physical conditions of the seat - bad air, talkative neighbours, and a very imperfect view of the stage. I believe that a lot of the people who go to the theatre here do so not for the performance but to 'perform' themselves.

I was inclined to change my opinion of the libretto, and to give Beethoven credit for having chosen it not so badly after all. There are situations in it that are genuinely heroic, but which less fine music might have rendered footling. The constant grand beauty of the music is what chiefly affects one in memory after the performance.

It was a wet and very muddy night. But we walked home because we had need of fresh air after the poison of the theatre. The Ullmans are very agreeable companions. Alice UIlman, formerly Alice Woods is an author and illustrator of some popularity in America and one of the few really intelligent American women I have met here. She is also rather strikingly pretty and was pleasantly attentive to me. I was decidedly envious of Eugene when we parted at their door. As usual!