Letter 2276 - Revision history

Tony: "the least thing" to "the last thing" / "-ize" to "-ise"

2024-12-30T12:18:58Z

"the least thing" to "the last thing" / "-ize" to "-ise"

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:18, 30 December 2024
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	[[Anya]], darling! You are the most incredible slanderer and calumniator in the whole wide world.		[[Anya]], darling! You are the most incredible slanderer and calumniator in the whole wide world.

	I have never in my life bought a single ''sachet'' in [[Paris]], and it is only in some state of feverish delirium that I could have promised you this. What may have happened is this. You see, I had thought I would be going to ''Italy'', so I may well have promised you a ''sachet'' of Florentine ''iris powder'' — now that is quite possible, but there you went off and confused the two! In any case, I shall bring you both a ''sachet'' and a statuette. Have the stand and some cloths ready <ref name="note1"/>. When you say that I didn't write to you anything about the [[Moscow (cantata)\|cantata]], you are again slandering me perfidiously. I most certainly did write about it, referring to how I needed to compose this cantata with the speed of a Roman candle <ref name="note2"/> in order to explain why I couldn't reply to your sweet and always so interesting letters other than by brief little scribbles. But, my Lord, how those people who say that I am coming for the performance of my cantata make me laugh!<ref name="note3"/> I am simply going to Russia, where I would have been a long time ago if it weren't for [[Tanya]], whom I still cannot leave here on her own <ref name="note4"/>. With all the fibres of my soul I am now yearning to go to Russia, to some place in the depths of the country — I shall run away from the coronation and from my cantata as fast as my legs can carry me, because right now the ~~least~~ thing I want in the world is noise, commotion, etc <ref name="note5"/>.		I have never in my life bought a single ''sachet'' in [[Paris]], and it is only in some state of feverish delirium that I could have promised you this. What may have happened is this. You see, I had thought I would be going to ''Italy'', so I may well have promised you a ''sachet'' of Florentine ''iris powder'' — now that is quite possible, but there you went off and confused the two! In any case, I shall bring you both a ''sachet'' and a statuette. Have the stand and some cloths ready <ref name="note1"/>. When you say that I didn't write to you anything about the [[Moscow (cantata)\|cantata]], you are again slandering me perfidiously. I most certainly did write about it, referring to how I needed to compose this cantata with the speed of a Roman candle <ref name="note2"/> in order to explain why I couldn't reply to your sweet and always so interesting letters other than by brief little scribbles. But, my Lord, how those people who say that I am coming for the performance of my cantata make me laugh! <ref name="note3"/> I am simply going to Russia, where I would have been a long time ago if it weren't for [[Tanya]], whom I still cannot leave here on her own <ref name="note4"/>. With all the fibres of my soul I am now yearning to go to Russia, to some place in the depths of the country — I shall run away from the coronation and from my cantata as fast as my legs can carry me, because right now the last thing I want in the world is noise, commotion, etc <ref name="note5"/>.

	I hope that within a week and a half or so I shall be able to leave, though I must say that I am by no means certain of this. I shall come to [[Petersburg]] and see you there. [[Paris]] has left me very, very tired. I cannot even believe it myself how much work I have done in all this time: I have orchestrated a [[Mazepa\|whole opera]] and written the big cantata, as well as a [[Coronation March\|festive march]] for the city of [[Moscow]]. If one adds to this my constant troubles and concern over [[Tanya]], then the upshot is several months which I have spent here in a not very Parisian fashion. Indeed, it makes me laugh to think that, despite having been living here for almost four months, I have not once found the time to visit the Louvre, for example, or the [Jardin du] Luxembourg — this is because I have literally devoted all my hours to work or to visits to [[Tanya]], and only in the evenings did I every now and then go to the theatre. In fact, I haven't quite finished everything yet: there's still a bit of work left to do. Until we meet in two weeks' time, golubushka.		I hope that within a week and a half or so I shall be able to leave, though I must say that I am by no means certain of this. I shall come to [[Petersburg]] and see you there. [[Paris]] has left me very, very tired. I cannot even believe it myself how much work I have done in all this time: I have orchestrated a [[Mazepa\|whole opera]] and written the big cantata, as well as a [[Coronation March\|festive march]] for the city of [[Moscow]]. If one adds to this my constant troubles and concern over [[Tanya]], then the upshot is several months which I have spent here in a not very Parisian fashion. Indeed, it makes me laugh to think that, despite having been living here for almost four months, I have not once found the time to visit the Louvre, for example, or the [Jardin du] Luxembourg — this is because I have literally devoted all my hours to work or to visits to [[Tanya]], and only in the evenings did I every now and then go to the theatre. In fact, I haven't quite finished everything yet: there's still a bit of work left to do. Until we meet in two weeks' time, golubushka.
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	==Notes and References==		==Notes and References==
	<references>		<references>
	<ref name="note1">{{note\|1\|See [[Letter 2046]] to [[Anna Merkling]], 18/30 June 1882, in which Tchaikovsky had ~~apologized~~ for failing to keep his promise and bring her a replica of a classical statue from Italy. He was particularly sorry because his cousin had already bought a support for the statuette.</ref>		<ref name="note1">{{note\|1\|See [[Letter 2046]] to [[Anna Merkling]], 18/30 June 1882, in which Tchaikovsky had apologised for failing to keep his promise and bring her a replica of a classical statue from Italy. He was particularly sorry because his cousin had already bought a support for the statuette.</ref>
	<ref name="note2">A type of firework which bursts into spectacularly coloured sparks and balls of fire.</ref>		<ref name="note2">A type of firework which bursts into spectacularly coloured sparks and balls of fire.</ref>
	<ref name="note3">At very short notice Tchaikovsky had been commissioned to write two works for the festivities which were to be held in [[Moscow]] to celebrate the coronation of [[Alexander III]]: the coronation cantata ''[[Moscow (cantata)\|Moscow]]'' (completed in [[Paris]] on 24 March/5 April 1883) and the [[Coronation March]] (completed on 23 March/4 April). Tchaikovsky was in [[Saint Petersburg]] when these two works were performed for the first time in [[Moscow]].</ref>		<ref name="note3">At very short notice, Tchaikovsky had been commissioned to write two works for the festivities which were to be held in [[Moscow]] to celebrate the coronation of [[Alexander III]]: the coronation cantata ''[[Moscow (cantata)\|Moscow]]'' (completed in [[Paris]] on 24 March/5 April 1883) and the [[Coronation March]] (completed on 23 March/4 April). Tchaikovsky was in [[Saint Petersburg]] when these two works were performed for the first time in [[Moscow]].</ref>
	<ref name="note4">On the previous day Tchaikovsky's niece [[Tatyana Davydova]] ("Tanya") had given birth in [[Paris]] to her illegitimate child, a boy who was christened [[Georges-Léon]]. Tchaikovsky, who, apart from [[Modest]], was so far the only member of her family to be aware of this, had assisted [[Tatyana Davydova\|Tatyana]] during her confinement and found a wet-nurse for the boy, as well as a local French family who could look after him for the time being. Even to [[Anna Merkling]] Tchaikovsky could not confide the full extent of his niece's predicament, and in letters to his cousin from [[Paris]] he had just told her that [[Tatyana Davydova\|Tatyana]] was being treated for her morphine addiction. See also {{bib\|2009/17\|Пётр Чайковский. Биография ; том 2}} (2009), p. 200-201.</ref>		<ref name="note4">On the previous day, Tchaikovsky's niece [[Tatyana Davydova]] ("Tanya") had given birth in [[Paris]] to her illegitimate child, a boy who was christened [[Georges-Léon]]. Tchaikovsky, who, apart from [[Modest]], was so far the only member of her family to be aware of this, had assisted [[Tatyana Davydova\|Tatyana]] during her confinement and found a wet-nurse for the boy, as well as a local French family who could look after him for the time being. Even to [[Anna Merkling]], Tchaikovsky could not confide the full extent of his niece's predicament, and in letters to his cousin from [[Paris]] he had just told her that [[Tatyana Davydova\|Tatyana]] was being treated for her morphine addiction. See also {{bib\|2009/17\|Пётр Чайковский. Биография ; том 2}} (2009), p. 200-201.</ref>
	<ref name="note5">The festivities for the coronation of [[Alexander III]] in [[Moscow]] took place in May 1883.</ref>		<ref name="note5">The festivities for the coronation of [[Alexander III]] in [[Moscow]] took place in May 1883.</ref>
	</references>		</references>

Brett: Text replacement - "in the Klin House-Museum Archive" to "in the {{RUS-KLč}} at Klin"

2023-09-23T15:28:50Z

Text replacement - "in the Klin House-Museum Archive" to "in the {{RUS-KLč}} at Klin"

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 23 September 2023
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	==Text and Translation==		==Text and Translation==
	Based on a handwritten copy in the [[Klin]] ~~House-Museum Archive~~, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.		Based on a handwritten copy in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]], which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
	{{Lettertext		{{Lettertext
	\|Language=Russian		\|Language=Russian

Brett: 1 revision imported

2022-07-14T20:31:14Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 22:31, 14 July 2022
(No difference)

Brett: Text replacement - "Петр " to "Пётр "

2020-03-01T11:40:40Z

Text replacement - "Петр " to "Пётр "

New page

{{letterhead
|Date=27 April/9 May 1883
|To=[[Anna Merkling]]
|Place=[[Paris]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph={{locunknown}}
|Publication={{bib|1951/49|П. И. Чайковский. С. И. Танеев. Письма}} (1951), p. 217<br/>{{bib|1970/86|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XII}} (1970), p. 140–141
|Notes=Manuscript copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}} (signature omitted)
}}

==Text and Translation==
Based on a handwritten copy in the [[Klin]] House-Museum Archive, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Luis Sundkvist
|Original text={{right|Париж<br/>27-го апреля 1883 г[ода]}}
Аня, голубушка! Ты самая невероятная клеветница и каломниатерша, какая есть на свете

Ни разу в жизни я ни единого ''саше'' в Париже не покупал и разве в горячечном бреду мог обещать тебе это. А вот что. Я ведь думал, что еду в ''Италию''; не обещал ли я тебе ''sachet'' из флорентинской ''poudre d'iris'', вот это весьма возможно, а ты взяла да и напутала! Во всяком случае, привезу и ''sachet'' и статуэтку. Готовь сюпор и платки. Говоря, что я тебе не писал ничего о кантате, ты, коварная, опять-таки клевещешь. Именно писал, и необходимостью с быстротой римской свечки написать эту кантату объяснял, почему не могу на твои милые и столь всегда интересные письма отвечать иначе, как коротенькими писульками. Но, Боже мой, как меня смешат те, которые говорят, что я еду на исполнение своей кантаты. Я еду просто в Россию, в которой давно бы уже был, если бы не Таня, которую всё ещё нельзя здесь оставить одну. Стремлюсь всеми силами души куда-нибудь в русскую глушь, а от коронации и кантаты буду удирать во все лопатки, ибо менее всего на свете желаю теперь шума, суеты и т. д.

Надеюсь, что недели через полторы можно будет выехать, но, впрочем, далеко ещё не уверен в этом. Поеду на Петербург и тебя увижу. Я очень, очень устал от Парижа. Просто невероятно мне самому поверить, сколько я наработал в это время, целую оперу инструментовал, большую кантату написал да ещё торжественный марш для города Москвы. Если прибавить к этому постоянные заботы и тревоги по поводу Тани, то в результате получается несколько месяцев, проведённых очень не по-парижси. И действительно, смешно подумать, что, живя здесь почти четыре месяца, я ни разу, например, не успел побывать в Лувре или в Luxembourg, ибо буквально все часы дня посвящал работе или посещениям Тани, и только вечером изредка в театр ходил. Да и теперь ещё не всё кончено: кое-что поработать ещё осталось. До свидания, голубушка, недели через две.
{{right|Твой,}}

|Translated text={{right|[[Paris]]<br/>27th April 1883}}
[[Anya]], darling! You are the most incredible slanderer and calumniator in the whole wide world.

I have never in my life bought a single ''sachet'' in [[Paris]], and it is only in some state of feverish delirium that I could have promised you this. What may have happened is this. You see, I had thought I would be going to ''Italy'', so I may well have promised you a ''sachet'' of Florentine ''iris powder'' — now that is quite possible, but there you went off and confused the two! In any case, I shall bring you both a ''sachet'' and a statuette. Have the stand and some cloths ready <ref name="note1"/>. When you say that I didn't write to you anything about the [[Moscow (cantata)|cantata]], you are again slandering me perfidiously. I most certainly did write about it, referring to how I needed to compose this cantata with the speed of a Roman candle <ref name="note2"/> in order to explain why I couldn't reply to your sweet and always so interesting letters other than by brief little scribbles. But, my Lord, how those people who say that I am coming for the performance of my cantata make me laugh!<ref name="note3"/> I am simply going to Russia, where I would have been a long time ago if it weren't for [[Tanya]], whom I still cannot leave here on her own <ref name="note4"/>. With all the fibres of my soul I am now yearning to go to Russia, to some place in the depths of the country — I shall run away from the coronation and from my cantata as fast as my legs can carry me, because right now the least thing I want in the world is noise, commotion, etc <ref name="note5"/>.

I hope that within a week and a half or so I shall be able to leave, though I must say that I am by no means certain of this. I shall come to [[Petersburg]] and see you there. [[Paris]] has left me very, very tired. I cannot even believe it myself how much work I have done in all this time: I have orchestrated a [[Mazepa|whole opera]] and written the big cantata, as well as a [[Coronation March|festive march]] for the city of [[Moscow]]. If one adds to this my constant troubles and concern over [[Tanya]], then the upshot is several months which I have spent here in a not very Parisian fashion. Indeed, it makes me laugh to think that, despite having been living here for almost four months, I have not once found the time to visit the Louvre, for example, or the [Jardin du] Luxembourg — this is because I have literally devoted all my hours to work or to visits to [[Tanya]], and only in the evenings did I every now and then go to the theatre. In fact, I haven't quite finished everything yet: there's still a bit of work left to do. Until we meet in two weeks' time, golubushka.
{{right|Yours,}}
}}

==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">{{note|1|See [[Letter 2046]] to [[Anna Merkling]], 18/30 June 1882, in which Tchaikovsky had apologized for failing to keep his promise and bring her a replica of a classical statue from Italy. He was particularly sorry because his cousin had already bought a support for the statuette.</ref>
<ref name="note2">A type of firework which bursts into spectacularly coloured sparks and balls of fire.</ref>
<ref name="note3">At very short notice Tchaikovsky had been commissioned to write two works for the festivities which were to be held in [[Moscow]] to celebrate the coronation of [[Alexander III]]: the coronation cantata ''[[Moscow (cantata)|Moscow]]'' (completed in [[Paris]] on 24 March/5 April 1883) and the [[Coronation March]] (completed on 23 March/4 April). Tchaikovsky was in [[Saint Petersburg]] when these two works were performed for the first time in [[Moscow]].</ref>
<ref name="note4">On the previous day Tchaikovsky's niece [[Tatyana Davydova]] ("Tanya") had given birth in [[Paris]] to her illegitimate child, a boy who was christened [[Georges-Léon]]. Tchaikovsky, who, apart from [[Modest]], was so far the only member of her family to be aware of this, had assisted [[Tatyana Davydova|Tatyana]] during her confinement and found a wet-nurse for the boy, as well as a local French family who could look after him for the time being. Even to [[Anna Merkling]] Tchaikovsky could not confide the full extent of his niece's predicament, and in letters to his cousin from [[Paris]] he had just told her that [[Tatyana Davydova|Tatyana]] was being treated for her morphine addiction. See also {{bib|2009/17|Пётр Чайковский. Биография ; том 2}} (2009), p. 200-201.</ref>
<ref name="note5">The festivities for the coronation of [[Alexander III]] in [[Moscow]] took place in May 1883.</ref>
</references>