152. Lecture Evening: Anna Ritter, Clara Viebig, Frieda von Bülow

On February 2, 1899, the "Berliner Presse" association organized a ladies' evening. Three contemporary artists spoke: Anna Ritter, Clara Viebig and Frieda von Bülow. Anna Ritter became "famous" in a surprisingly short time. So quickly, as is almost only the case with fashion poets, who quickly disappear again. But she certainly does not deserve this fate. For she is a real lyricist. A poet from whom the enduring nature of humanity speaks. You can imagine Anna Ritter in pretty much any time. Because she sings about what is never old and never new, but always present. One is reminded of Mörike, but also of Walther von der Vogelweide, both translated into the feminine. She sings of the feeling of womanhood, which is eternal. When I read her poems, a world of emotion opens up in me. Her recitation almost made me sweat blood. Must there be such display? Must feelings, which are sacred, be profaned by the false sentimentality of a recital in front of an audience of a hundred? Clara Viebig was in a better position. Her "Pharisees" - I would like to reveal that I know it completely - is an effective drama that "cries out for the stage". It could be used to prove that we have talent for drama. Directors should read drama. Frieda von Bülow read a novella "The Child". I can't say anything about it. But that's not my fault. While the reading was going on, the audience kept running away. Let the devil take me: but I can't stand such bad manners. A decent person doesn't do that; and if a critic doesn't have to be constantly annoyed by the rabble-rousing running away, then he won't need to admit his incompetence either.