https://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Letter_659Letter 659 - Revision history2026-08-05T03:53:13ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.38.2https://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=66382&oldid=prevTony at 10:29, 20 April 20242024-04-20T10:29:47Z<p></p>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>So you see, my dear friend, that I am full of contradictions, and although I continue to mature in years, neither religion nor philosophy has yet to soothe my restless spirit. Truly one should go mad were it not for ''music''. This is, as a matter of fact, the best gift from heaven to a humanity wandering around in the darkness. Only it alone can provide enlightenment, calm and reconciliation. It is not just a straw in the wind, but a genuine friend, protector and comforter, and it alone makes life worth living. Indeed, perhaps there will be no music in heaven. Let us enjoy it here on earth while we are alive. </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>So you see, my dear friend, that I am full of contradictions, and although I continue to mature in years, neither religion nor philosophy has yet to soothe my restless spirit. Truly one should go mad were it not for ''music''. This is, as a matter of fact, the best gift from heaven to a humanity wandering around in the darkness. Only it alone can provide enlightenment, calm and reconciliation. It is not just a straw in the wind, but a genuine friend, protector and comforter, and it alone makes life worth living. Indeed, perhaps there will be no music in heaven. Let us enjoy it here on earth while we are alive. </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>-----</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>-----</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Now to answer your question about my family. I must warn you that my description of my relatives will be an uninterrupted ''dithyramb'' <ref name="note3"/>, but I assure you, my dear friend, that the praise I shall lavish upon my family is not in the least exaggerated. The head of the family is my father, a man of 83 years of age. My father worked for a long time as a mining engineer, and for a long time was in charge of, amongst other things, the Kamsko-Votkinsk factory in Vyatka province, where I was born. In 1848, he retired and lived on the interest from a modest capital, which he had accrued over many years of service. In 1857, he entrusted this capital into the hands of a single adventurer <ref name="note4"/>, who had promised him piles of gold. This capital was irrevocably lost that same year. In 1858 he re-entered the service, and was for 4 years the director of the Technical Institute. He retired in 1862, and now lives on a pension in [[Petersburg]]. My mother died in 1854 from cholera. She was a remarkable and intelligent woman who passionately loved her children. In 1865 my father married for a third time. My stepmother <ref name="note5"/> is a semi-educated, but very intelligent and extraordinarily kind woman, who has managed to win everyone's sincere admiration for her kind, selfless devotion to her old husband. We all, that is, my sisters and brothers, love her wholeheartedly. Father, once a very capable engineer, has now become childlike. Physically he is still hearty and healthy, but his mind is very weak. He only retains his previous love for children, and the angelic kindness by which he has always been distinguished, but which now comes across as particularly poignant. It can truly be said about this man that he never hurt a fly. All the other manifestations of his mind and spirit have become purely childlike. His memory has almost completely gone, especially since a serious illness that afflicted him last year. I have four brothers. The oldest, [[Nikolay Tchaikovsky|Nikolay]], works on the railways and lives in [[Kharkov]]. He is married, but childless. I come after him, then there is my brother [[Ippolit]], who lives in [[Odessa]], and is also married and childless. Then we come to the twins whom you know: [[Anatoly]] and [[Modest]]. It is no exaggeration to say that these two young men are very fine personalities in terms of their moral and intellectual qualities. We have a mutually strong bond of affection between us, which is seldom found among brothers. They are considerably younger, i.e. 10 years my junior. When our mother died they were four years old, and our sister was in college. Our older brother, a good man, but not particularly sensitive, could not replace their affectionate and loving mother. And of course I was not a mother to them. But from the first minute of their bereavement I ''wanted'' to be a mother for them, because I knew from experience how maternal tenderness and affection can leave an indelible mark on the soul of a child. And ever since then, my relationship with them took a shape that made me love them more than myself and be ready for any kind of sacrifice, and made them be devoted to me beyond any limit. They both attended the School of Jurisprudence. ''[[Anatoly]]'' has a successful career: he is now the assistant prosecutor in [[Petersburg]]. ''[[Modest]]'' (exceptionally gifted by nature, but lacking a certain propensity to any one field of activity) does not have an especially brilliant career. He was more interested in books, paintings and music than in his school work. We were all concerned about his future, when one of our mutual friends (Madame Davydov, the wife of the director of the [[Petersburg]] Conservatory) took it upon herself to recommend him to a certain Mr [[Herman Konradi|Konradi]], who was seeking a tutor for his only son, a deaf-mute. The matter was settled. [[Modest]] soon proved himself to be an excellent teacher. He spent a year abroad in order to study a method for training deaf children, and now he is wholeheartedly devoted to his charge. ''[[Anatoly]]'' is to be found with me now. You ask if it would be possible after he leaves for [[Modest]] to take his place. This would make me immensely happy, although there is little hope that this can be arranged. This would only be possible if ''[[Herman Konradi|Konradi]]'' were to agree that his son could go with him. It would be a good thing for the boy, as he is weak and needs fresh air and a warm climate. I say ''there is hope'' because I enquired about it in a letter to my brother from [[Rome]] <ref name="note6"/>. I know one thing: if there is the slightest possibility, it will happen.</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Now to answer your question about my family. I must warn you that my description of my relatives will be an uninterrupted ''dithyramb'' <ref name="note3"/>, but I assure you, my dear friend, that the praise I shall lavish upon my family is not in the least exaggerated. The head of the family is my father, a man of 83 years of age. My father worked for a long time as a mining engineer, and for a long time was in charge of, amongst other things, the Kamsko-Votkinsk factory in Vyatka province, where I was born. In 1848, he retired and lived on the interest from a modest capital, which he had accrued over many years of service. In 1857, he entrusted this capital into the hands of a single adventurer <ref name="note4"/>, who had promised him piles of gold. This capital was irrevocably lost that same year. In 1858 he re-entered the service, and was for 4 years the director of the Technical Institute. He retired in 1862, and now lives on a pension in [[Petersburg]]. My mother died in 1854 from cholera. She was a remarkable and intelligent woman who passionately loved her children. In 1865<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">, </ins>my father married for a third time. My stepmother <ref name="note5"/> is a semi-educated, but very intelligent and extraordinarily kind woman, who has managed to win everyone's sincere admiration for her kind, selfless devotion to her old husband. We all, that is, my sisters and brothers, love her wholeheartedly. Father, once a very capable engineer, has now become childlike. Physically he is still hearty and healthy, but his mind is very weak. He only retains his previous love for children, and the angelic kindness by which he has always been distinguished, but which now comes across as particularly poignant. It can truly be said about this man that he never hurt a fly. All the other manifestations of his mind and spirit have become purely childlike. His memory has almost completely gone, especially since a serious illness that afflicted him last year. I have four brothers. The oldest, [[Nikolay Tchaikovsky|Nikolay]], works on the railways and lives in [[Kharkov]]. He is married, but childless. I come after him, then there is my brother [[Ippolit]], who lives in [[Odessa]], and is also married and childless. Then we come to the twins whom you know: [[Anatoly]] and [[Modest]]. It is no exaggeration to say that these two young men are very fine personalities in terms of their moral and intellectual qualities. We have a mutually strong bond of affection between us, which is seldom found among brothers. They are considerably younger, i.e. 10 years my junior. When our mother died they were four years old, and our sister was in college. Our older brother, a good man, but not particularly sensitive, could not replace their affectionate and loving mother. And of course I was not a mother to them. But from the first minute of their bereavement I ''wanted'' to be a mother for them, because I knew from experience how maternal tenderness and affection can leave an indelible mark on the soul of a child. And ever since then, my relationship with them took a shape that made me love them more than myself and be ready for any kind of sacrifice, and made them be devoted to me beyond any limit. They both attended the School of Jurisprudence. ''[[Anatoly]]'' has a successful career: he is now the assistant prosecutor in [[Petersburg]]. ''[[Modest]]'' (exceptionally gifted by nature, but lacking a certain propensity to any one field of activity) does not have an especially brilliant career. He was more interested in books, paintings and music than in his school work. We were all concerned about his future, when one of our mutual friends (Madame Davydov, the wife of the director of the [[Petersburg]] Conservatory) took it upon herself to recommend him to a certain Mr [[Herman Konradi|Konradi]], who was seeking a tutor for his only son, a deaf-mute. The matter was settled. [[Modest]] soon proved himself to be an excellent teacher. He spent a year abroad in order to study a method for training deaf children, and now he is wholeheartedly devoted to his charge. ''[[Anatoly]]'' is to be found with me now. You ask if it would be possible after he leaves for [[Modest]] to take his place. This would make me immensely happy, although there is little hope that this can be arranged. This would only be possible if ''[[Herman Konradi|Konradi]]'' were to agree that his son could go with him. It would be a good thing for the boy, as he is weak and needs fresh air and a warm climate. I say ''there is hope'' because I enquired about it in a letter to my brother from [[Rome]] <ref name="note6"/>. I know one thing: if there is the slightest possibility, it will happen.</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Although I have two sisters, the first (from my father's first wife) is much older than me, and lives in the Urals, and I know very little about her <ref name="note7"/>. As for my full sister, I have already written to you about her <ref name="note8"/>. She is in the full sense of the word an impeccable, wonderful woman.</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Although I have two sisters, the first (from my father's first wife) is much older than me, and lives in the Urals, and I know very little about her <ref name="note7"/>. As for my full sister, I have already written to you about her <ref name="note8"/>. She is in the full sense of the word an impeccable, wonderful woman.</div></td></tr>
</table>Tonyhttps://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=66381&oldid=prevTony: "Helmsberger" to "Hellmesberger"2024-04-20T10:19:32Z<p>"Helmsberger" to "Hellmesberger"</p>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>But enough of this sad topic.</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>But enough of this sad topic.</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>-----</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>-----</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>I have received word that my servant's <ref name="note12"/> departure is subject to some official formalities, about which there is some sort of delay. I have to stay here for 3 or 4 more days. The weather is terrible. It pours with rain incessantly. Three days ago we went to the opera, which I greatly enjoyed. They were doing Cherubini's "''Les deux journées''". I had never heard of this opera. Such charm, such simplicity and modesty, but with plenty of freshness, elegance and classical beauty of form. After the opera came the ''ballet "Sylvia"'', whose music is being talked about very much. It really is a ''chef-d'oeuvre'' of its kind. The author of this music is a Frenchman: [[Léo Delibes|{{sic|Léo Delibes|Lèo Deslibes}}]]. I really wish that you were able to get a copy of the score of this ballet. Never before in ballet music has there been such gracefulness, such a richness of melodies and rhythms, such a splendid instrumentation. Without any false modesty whatsoever, I can assure you that "''[[Swan Lake|The Lake of Swans]]''" is not fit even to hold a candle to "''Sylvia''". I was utterly enchanted! There are also a lot of interesting concerts here, but I do not go to them, for fear of encountering various representatives from the musical world who know me. Tomorrow [[Wagner]]'s opera "Die <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Valküre</del>" is on, and I want to go and listen to it.</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>I have received word that my servant's <ref name="note12"/> departure is subject to some official formalities, about which there is some sort of delay. I have to stay here for 3 or 4 more days. The weather is terrible. It pours with rain incessantly. Three days ago we went to the opera, which I greatly enjoyed. They were doing Cherubini's "''Les deux journées''". I had never heard of this opera. Such charm, such simplicity and modesty, but with plenty of freshness, elegance and classical beauty of form. After the opera came the ''ballet "Sylvia"'', whose music is being talked about very much. It really is a ''chef-d'oeuvre'' of its kind. The author of this music is a Frenchman: [[Léo Delibes|{{sic|Léo Delibes|Lèo Deslibes}}]]. I really wish that you were able to get a copy of the score of this ballet. Never before in ballet music has there been such gracefulness, such a richness of melodies and rhythms, such a splendid instrumentation. Without any false modesty whatsoever, I can assure you that "''[[Swan Lake|The Lake of Swans]]''" is not fit even to hold a candle to "''Sylvia''". I was utterly enchanted! There are also a lot of interesting concerts here, but I do not go to them, for fear of encountering various representatives from the musical world who know me. Tomorrow [[Wagner]]'s opera "Die <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Walküre</ins>" is on, and I want to go and listen to it.</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>----- </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>----- </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Our mutual friend [[Kotek]] is also here now, and seeing him was very pleasant for me. I have had many proofs of his most sincere friendship towards me, and last year we became very close. It seems to me there is a great deal of good in him, and he has a very, very kind heart. He was the first to teach me to love you, when I did not yet dream that someday I should call you my friend. He has come abroad with the very modest aim of not taking the stage himself, but rather to listen to others. He met with Joachim and wants to settle in [[Berlin]], but has now come to [[Vienna]] for a while to hear <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Helmsberger </del><ref name="note13"/>, and to acquaint himself with some of the local artists. He is doing a great deal and is extremely busy.</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Our mutual friend [[Kotek]] is also here now, and seeing him was very pleasant for me. I have had many proofs of his most sincere friendship towards me, and last year we became very close. It seems to me there is a great deal of good in him, and he has a very, very kind heart. He was the first to teach me to love you, when I did not yet dream that someday I should call you my friend. He has come abroad with the very modest aim of not taking the stage himself, but rather to listen to others. He met with Joachim and wants to settle in [[Berlin]], but has now come to [[Vienna]] for a while to hear <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Hellmesberger </ins><ref name="note13"/>, and to acquaint himself with some of the local artists. He is doing a great deal and is extremely busy.</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>-----</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>-----</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>{{right|''The same day. Evening, 12 o'clock''}}</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>{{right|''The same day. Evening, 12 o'clock''}}</div></td></tr>
</table>Tonyhttps://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=66380&oldid=prevTony: Omitted "be" / "to" for clarity of meaning / Inserted "I" due to context2024-04-20T10:15:11Z<p>Omitted "be" / "to" for clarity of meaning / Inserted "I" due to context</p>
<a href="https://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=66380&oldid=44626">Show changes</a>Tonyhttps://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=44626&oldid=prevBrett: 1 revision imported2022-07-12T12:19:48Z<p>1 revision imported</p>
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<td colspan="1" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 14:19, 12 July 2022</td>
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</td></tr></table>Bretthttps://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=44625&oldid=prevBrett at 12:38, 16 January 20202020-01-16T12:38:05Z<p></p>
<a href="https://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/index.php?title=Letter_659&diff=44625">Show changes</a>Brett