An Obsession That Went Beyond Adoration
By now, everyone in Bavaria was aware of the King’s fascination with Richard Wagner. However, as time passed, many people became convinced that it was more than that. Ludwig’s fascination with the composer appeared to be more about the man than his music. Rumors circulated that the King had a romantic connection with Richard, and they were not convinced they were correct. At the time, Richard was having an affair with a woman known as Cosima. So, while the composer was unlikely to accept the King’s proposals, he did not reject them. In fact, he may have encouraged them.
An Obsession That Went Beyond Adoration
His Romantic Overtones Were Clear as Day
Ludwig had feelings for Richard and didn’t try to hide them. While the audience could only conjecture, the composer had evidence of the King’s thoughts in letters he had received. While Richard was straight, he recognized that cultivating Ludwig’s affections for him could work to his favor. So Richard reacted to the King’s letters with the same emotion. One even read, “What happiness surrounds me! A lovely dream has become a reality! How can I explain the magic of this hour? I’m in your angelic arms. We are close to each other… The composer understood what he was doing. He simply didn’t grasp how deadly it could be.
His Romantic Overtones Were Clear As Day
