Letter 3898 and Natalya Plesskaya: Difference between pages

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{{letterhead
{{picture|file=Natalya Plesskaya.jpg|caption='''Natalya Plesskaya''' (b. 1837)}}
|Date=9/21 July 1889
Cousin to the composer's brother-in-law [[Lev Davydov]] (b. 1837), born '''''Natalya Andreyevna Plesskaya''''' (Наталия Андреевна Плесская), sometimes also spelled ''Pleskaya'' (Плеская).
|To=[[Adolph Brodsky]]
|Place=[[Frolovskoye]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph=Manchester (England): {{GB-Mcm}}
|Publication={{bib|1976/64|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XV–А}} (1976), p. 149<br/>{{bib|2006/51|Анна Бродская (Скадовская). Воспоминания о русском доме}} (2006), p. 130–131
}}


==Text and Translation==
Natalya was a close friend of the composer's sister [[Aleksandra Davydova|Aleksandra]], and a cousin to his brother-in-law [[Lev Davydov]] (1837–1896). Tchaikovsky was very fond of Natalya Plesskaya, and admired her sunny disposition and ready wit.  
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Luis Sundkvist
|Original text={{right|9 июля [18]89 г[ода]}}
{{centre|Милый друг мой!}}
Я должен просить у тебя прощения за то, что страшно напутал в деле о приглашении твоего квартета. Сейчас у меня был Сафонов (новый директор консерватории), и из беседы с ним оказывается следующее. Когда в дирекции шёл разговор о приглашении вас, то я сказал, что вы дадите ''четыре сеанса''. Тут же было решено, что на каждый из них будет приглашён один из наших четырёх пианистов. Если теперь одному из них отказать, то произойдёт обида, неприятности, ссоры.  


Итак, если это возможно, согласись, ради Бога, играть четыре раза. Так как в протоколе заседания дирекции сказано (вследствие моей ошибки), что дирекция обеспечивает вам по 500 р[ублей] за четыре, а не за три сеанса — то изменить это теперь уже очень трудно. Но так как я нисколько не сомневаюсь, что успех ваш будет громадный, то вы, во всяком случае, получите излишек против гарантированной суммы. Сафонов (очень практический человек) ручается за большой сбор. Итак, ради Бога, не отказывайся и прости, что я напутал. Дни, в которые вы будете играть, уже назначены. Итак,
==Dedications==
:I) 28 окт[ября] ты играешь в концерте,
In 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote a ''[[Nathalie-Valse]]'' for Natalya Plesskaya. He retained the dedication of this piano piece ("à Mademoiselle Natha Plessky") when it was reworked as ''Natha-Valse'', No. 4 of the [[Six Pieces, Op. 51]] (1881).
:II) 1-й сеанс 31 окт[ября]/12 ноября, вторник,
::2-й сеанс 3/15 ноября, пятница,
::3-й сеанс 7/19 ноября, вторник,
::4-й 10/22 ноября, пятница.


Таким образом, всего ''квартету'' придётся быть в Москве две недели, а ''тебе'' самому несколько больше (одной репетиции для концерта мало, и потому тебе нужно быть на репетиции 26-го, в четверг, утром).
==Correspondence with Tchaikovsky==
16 letters from Tchaikovsky to Natalya Plesskaya have survived, dating from 1879 to 1893. Those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:
* '''[[Letter 1060]]''' – 6/18 January 1879, from [[Clarens]]
* [[Letter 1376]] – 13/25 December 1879, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 1388]]''' – 23 December 1879/4 January 1880, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 1941]]''' – 22 January/3 February 1882, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 1986]] – 6/18 March 1882, from [[Naples]]
* [[Letter 2014]] – 4/16 May 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 2269]] – 20 April/2 May 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 2330]] – 16/28 August 1883, from [[Podushkino]]
* [[Letter 2333]] – 22 August/3 September 1883, from [[Podushkino]]
* [[Letter 2536]] – 28 August/9 September 1884, from [[Skabeyevo]]
* [[Letter 2687]] – 15/27 April 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 2744]] – 31 July/12 August 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 3640a]]''' – 11/23 August 1888, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 4859]] – 6/18 February 1893, from [[Klin]]
* '''[[Letter 4907]]''' – 5/17 April 1893, from [[Klin]]
* '''[[Letter 4958]]''' – 19 June/1 July 1893, from [[Grankino]]


Засим вам остаётся целая неделя для Петербурга. Если хочешь, я напишу, а то ты сам напиши Альбрехту, что вы у него можете играть между 12/24 и 18/30 ноября.
250 letters from Natalya Plesskaya to the composer, dating from 1878 to 1893, are preserved in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]]  (a{{sup|4}}, Nos. 3363–3612) <ref name="note1"/>


Прости, что неудобочитаемо написал, очень тороплюсь!
==Bibliography==
{{right|Твой П. Чайковский}}
* {{bib|1938/67}} (1938)
 
* {{bib|1951/51}} (1951)
|Translated text={{right|9 July 1889}}
{{centre|My dear friend!}}
I must beg your forgiveness for having made such an awful mess of the invitation for your quartet <ref name="note1"/>. [[Safonov]] (the Conservatory's new director) has just been to see me, and this is what emerged from my conversation with him. When the board of directors discussed the possibility of inviting you, I said that you would be giving ''four performances''. It was also then that the decision was taken to invite one of our four pianists to take part in each one of these concerts. If we now have to turn away one of them, then the result will be hurt feelings and unpleasant quarrels <ref name="note2"/>.
 
Therefore, if it is possible, please do agree, for God's sake, to play four times. Since in the minutes of the board of directors' meeting it says (due to my mistake) that the board is guaranteeing to each one of you 500 rubles for four performances rather than three, it would be very difficult to alter this now. However, as I have not the least doubt that your success will be tremendous, you will in any case receive a surplus as against the guaranteed sum. [[Safonov]] (a very practical-minded person) vouches for the box-office returns being very good. And so, for God's sake, don't refuse and forgive me for having muddled things up. The dates on which you are to play have already been fixed. Thus, 
:I) On 28 October, you are playing in the concert,
:II) the 1st [quartet] performance is on Tuesday, 31 October/12 November,
::the 2nd performance is on Friday, 3/15 November,
::the 3rd performance is on Tuesday, 7/19 November,
::the 4th is on Friday, 10/22 November.
This means that your ''quartet'' would have to be in [[Moscow]] for just two weeks, though ''you'' would have to be there a bit longer (one rehearsal for the concert isn't enough, and so you'll have to attend the rehearsal on the morning of Thursday the 26th). 
 
After that you have a whole week left for [[Petersburg]]. If you wish, I can write to [[Eugen Albrecht|Albrecht]] (or you can write to him yourself) to tell him that you can play there any day between 12/24 and 18/30 November. 
 
Forgive me for having written this in such unreadable fashion—I am in a great hurry!
{{right|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}}
}}


==Notes and References==
==Notes and References==
<references>
<references>
<ref name="note1">[[Adolph Brodsky]] had set up his own string quartet in [[Leipzig]] a few years earlier (this ensemble was known as the "Leipzig Quartet"). At the time of this letter its grouping included the following players: [[Brodsky]] (first violin), Hans Becker (second violin), Ottokar Nováček (viola), and Julius Klengel (cello). The quartet had been invited by the Russian Musical Society to give a number of performances in [[Moscow]] during the forthcoming concert season.</ref>
<ref name="note1">Including one letter dating from 5/17-10/22 January 1891, written jointly by Plesskaya and the composer's sister [[Aleksandra Davydova|Aleksandra]] (a{{sup|4}}, No. 3582).</ref>
<ref name="note2">As his letter to Tchaikovsky from [[Leipzig]] on 6/18 June 1889 shows, [[Brodsky]] was assuming that he and his quartet had been invited to play at three chamber music soirées in [[Moscow]], and he accordingly suggested a number of possible dates which he hoped to fit around his own solo appearance in [[Moscow]] scheduled for 28 October/9 November, at which he intended to play Tchaikovsky's [[Violin Concerto]]. He also intended to perform with the "Leipzig Quartet" at a chamber music soirée in [[Saint Petersburg]]. [[Brodsky]]'s letter has been published in {{bib|2006/51}} (2006), p. 128.</ref>
</references>
</references>
[[Category:People|Plesskaya, Natalya]]
[[Category:Correspondents|Plesskaya, Natalya]]
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 14:58, 13 February 2024

Natalya Plesskaya (b. 1837)

Cousin to the composer's brother-in-law Lev Davydov (b. 1837), born Natalya Andreyevna Plesskaya (Наталия Андреевна Плесская), sometimes also spelled Pleskaya (Плеская).

Natalya was a close friend of the composer's sister Aleksandra, and a cousin to his brother-in-law Lev Davydov (1837–1896). Tchaikovsky was very fond of Natalya Plesskaya, and admired her sunny disposition and ready wit.

Dedications

In 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote a Nathalie-Valse for Natalya Plesskaya. He retained the dedication of this piano piece ("à Mademoiselle Natha Plessky") when it was reworked as Natha-Valse, No. 4 of the Six Pieces, Op. 51 (1881).

Correspondence with Tchaikovsky

16 letters from Tchaikovsky to Natalya Plesskaya have survived, dating from 1879 to 1893. Those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:

250 letters from Natalya Plesskaya to the composer, dating from 1878 to 1893, are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, Nos. 3363–3612) [1]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. ↑ Including one letter dating from 5/17-10/22 January 1891, written jointly by Plesskaya and the composer's sister Aleksandra (a4, No. 3582).
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