Letter 228 and Friedrich Sieger: Difference between pages

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{{letterhead
Musical writer, critic, director of the [[Frankfurt-am-Main]] Museum-Gesellschaft (b. 1848; d. 1924).
|Date=3/15 February 1871
|To=[[Anatoly Tchaikovsky]]
|Place=[[Moscow]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph={{locunknown}}
|Publication={{bib|1940/210|П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным ; том 1}} (1940), p. 170 <br/>{{bib|1959/50|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том V}} (1959), p. 251
|Notes=Manuscript copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}}
}}
==Text and Translation==
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
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Brett Langston
|Original text={{right|3 февраля 1871 г[ода]<br/>Москва}}
{{centre|Милый мой}}
Я имел разговор с Гордеевым насчёт твоих служебных дел. Из его слов я вижу, что, желая оставаться в Киеве, ты уступаешь просьбам твоих приятелей и также своей собственной охоте остаться на месте, [на] котором ты обжился. Но, ведь важнее всего для тебя служебные успехи, и ты сам очень хорошо понимаешь, что Москва — арена для деятельности все же более обширная, чем Киев. Я очень понимаю, как неприятно бросать множество дружеских связей и разные уже установившиеся привычки; я даже так близко вошёл в твоё положение, что после разговора с Гордеевым, (к[ото]рый, между прочим, мне нравится очень) я тебя простил за легкомысленность, в коей было обвинил тебя, и начинал уже колебаться, — как вдруг... но это требует более подробного рассказа. В воскресенье 31 января я после завтрака лёг спать (ибо не спал ночь). В 5 часов слышу над собой звук знакомого голоса; открываю глаза и немею от удивления и отчасти удовольствия. Передо мной стоял г. вице-директор департамента М[инистерства] юстиции. Он приехал для свидания по делу с своим родственником всего на один день. Разумеется, мы обедали вместе, провели вечер в театре и потом ещё в разных местах. Я рассказал ему о твоих служебных обстоятельствах, и он нашёл, что перейти в Московский округ судебным следователем для тебя положительно выгодно; что это всё-таки шаг вперёд, но что, впрочем, если ты хочешь остаться в Киеве, то это можно сделать и что ты от того много не потеряешь, так как через год в Киеве откроются новые учреждения. Итак, пойми, душа моя, что ввиду слов столь важного лица, как Адамов, я не могу предпринять ничего решительного, пока ты не ответишь мне и не велишь поступить так или иначе. Если он находит, что перевод в Москву есть шаг вперёд, то я не могу действовать, не сообщив о том тебе и не дождавшись твоего окончательного решения. Итак, милый мой, сообрази Все хорошенько и напиши.


Я провожу время приятно. У меня живёт теперь милый Клименко (к[ото]рый кланяется тебе). Начал заниматься гимнастикой 3 раза в неделю. Оперу пишу. Обнимаю и целую тебя, пиши.
After Tchaikovsky's concert on 3/15 January 1889 at the prestigious venue of the Museum-Gesellschaft, Sieger was very keen for the Russian composer to return to [[Frankfurt]] during the next winter season. Tchaikovsky had great misgivings about the conservative stamp of audiences and musicians alike in [[Frankfurt]] (which had partly been responsible for his decision to drop the overture ''[[The Year 1812]]'' from the concert he conducted in the city in January 1889), but he did accept Sieger's offer to conduct at the Museum-Gesellschaft again on 2/14 March 1890 <ref name="note1"/>. The latter hoped in particular that Tchaikovsky would acquaint the [[Frankfurt]] public with the orchestral fantasia ''[[Francesca da Rimini]]'', which he considered to be a masterpiece. Tchaikovsky did not, however, give any concerts at all in the first half of 1890, since he was absorbed in the composition of ''[[The Queen of Spades]]'', but later that year he did promise Sieger again that he would return to [[Frankfurt]] and conduct ''[[Francesca]]'', as well as the [[Serenade for String Orchestra]], at the Museum-Gesellschaft on 1/13 February 1891 <ref name="note2"/>. Unfortunately, this concert did not work out either due to other engagements, and Tchaikovsky duly apologised to Sieger, who had shown such sincere enthusiasm for his music <ref name="note3"/>.


|Translated text={{right|3 February 1871<br/>[[Moscow]]}}
==Correspondence with Tchaikovsky==
{{centre|My dear fellow}}
5 letters from Tchaikovsky to Friedrich Sieger have survived, dating from 1889 to 1891, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:
I had a conversation with Gordeyev about the issue of your employment. From his words I see that, in wanting to stay in [[Kiev]], you are giving in to the urging of your friends, as well as to your own desire to remain in the place where you are settled. But above all, the most important thing is to be successful in your career, and you are well aware that [[Moscow]] is a far larger arena of activity than [[Kiev]]. I know very well how unpleasant it is to leave behind many friendships and various well-established habits; I even came so close to your position that after the conversation with Gordeyev, I regretted accusing you of flippancy, and I was already beginning to waver, when suddenly ... well, this requires a more detailed account. On Sunday 31 January, I went to bed after lunch (because I hadn't slept at night). At 5 o'clock I hear the sound of a familar voice above me; I open my eyes, and am dumbstruck with surprise and a degree of pleasure. Standing before me is the deputy departmental director of the Ministry of Justice. He had come for a business meeting with his associates for just one day. Naturally, we had dinner together, spent the evening at the theatre and then in various other places. I told him about your employment circumstances, and he considered that moving to the Moscow circuit as a judicial investigator would certainly be beneficial for you; while this would still be a step forward, if, however, you still wish to remain in [[Kiev]], then this can be arranged, and you won't lose much from doing so, since new institutions will be opening in [[Kiev]] this year. So, you will understand, my dear chap, that in view of the words of such an important figure as Adamov, I cannot do anything at all decisive until you reply to me and instruct me to act in one way or another. If he finds that a transfer to [[Moscow]] is a step forward, then I cannot act without telling you this, and awaiting your final decision. Therefore, my dear fellow, give it all careful consideration, and put pen to paper.
* '''[[Letter 3779]]''' – 1/13 February 1889, from [[Frankfurt]]
* [[Letter 3914a]] – 1/13 August 1889 (?), from [[Frolovskoye]]
* '''[[Letter 3943]]''' – 1/13 October 1889, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 3980a]]''' — 8/20 December 1889, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 4293b]]''' – 6/18 January 1891, from [[Frolovskoye]]


I'm spending the time pleasantly. Dear [[Klimenko]] (who bows to you) is now living with me. I've started exercising 3 times a week. I'm writing an opera. I hug and kiss you, do write.
6 letters from Sieger to Tchaikovsky, dating from 1889 and 1890, are preserved in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]] (a{{sup|4}}, Nos. 1243–1248).
}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Letter 0228}}
==Bibliography==
* {{bib|1970/6}} (1970)
* {{bib|1998/39}} (1998)
* {{bib|1998/98}} (1998)
 
==External Links==
* {{viaf|5868166535902312880004}}
 
==Notes and References==
<references>
<ref name="note1">[[Letter 3943]] to Friedrich Sieger, 1/13 October 1889.</ref>
<ref name="note2">Letter to Friedrich Sieger, 15/27 July 1890. This letter seems to have been lost, but Sieger refers to it (giving the exact date) in his letter to Tchaikovsky from [[Frankfurt]] on 23 December 1890 {{NS}}, which is included (in Russian translation) in {{bib|1970/6|Чайковский и зарубежные музыканты}} (1970), p. 61–64.</ref>
<ref name="note3">[[Letter 4293b]] to Friedrich Sieger, 6/18 January 1891. In his letter to Tchaikovsky of 23 July 1890 {{NS}} Sieger had spoken admiringly of ''[[The Sleeping Beauty]]'', which he had studied in the piano transcription, "though I lament that I do not have the chance to hear this music so full of charm and gracefulness in an orchestral performance" — see {{bib|1970/6|Чайковский и зарубежные музыканты}} (1970), p. 63.</ref>
</references>
 
[[Category:People|Sieger, Friedrich]]
[[Category:Correspondents|Sieger, Friedrich]]
[[Category:Writers|Sieger, Friedrich]]
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 00:00, 20 February 2024

Musical writer, critic, director of the Frankfurt-am-Main Museum-Gesellschaft (b. 1848; d. 1924).

After Tchaikovsky's concert on 3/15 January 1889 at the prestigious venue of the Museum-Gesellschaft, Sieger was very keen for the Russian composer to return to Frankfurt during the next winter season. Tchaikovsky had great misgivings about the conservative stamp of audiences and musicians alike in Frankfurt (which had partly been responsible for his decision to drop the overture The Year 1812 from the concert he conducted in the city in January 1889), but he did accept Sieger's offer to conduct at the Museum-Gesellschaft again on 2/14 March 1890 [1]. The latter hoped in particular that Tchaikovsky would acquaint the Frankfurt public with the orchestral fantasia Francesca da Rimini, which he considered to be a masterpiece. Tchaikovsky did not, however, give any concerts at all in the first half of 1890, since he was absorbed in the composition of The Queen of Spades, but later that year he did promise Sieger again that he would return to Frankfurt and conduct Francesca, as well as the Serenade for String Orchestra, at the Museum-Gesellschaft on 1/13 February 1891 [2]. Unfortunately, this concert did not work out either due to other engagements, and Tchaikovsky duly apologised to Sieger, who had shown such sincere enthusiasm for his music [3].

Correspondence with Tchaikovsky

5 letters from Tchaikovsky to Friedrich Sieger have survived, dating from 1889 to 1891, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:

6 letters from Sieger to Tchaikovsky, dating from 1889 and 1890, are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, Nos. 1243–1248).

Bibliography

External Links

Notes and References

  1. ↑ Letter 3943 to Friedrich Sieger, 1/13 October 1889.
  2. ↑ Letter to Friedrich Sieger, 15/27 July 1890. This letter seems to have been lost, but Sieger refers to it (giving the exact date) in his letter to Tchaikovsky from Frankfurt on 23 December 1890 [N.S.], which is included (in Russian translation) in Чайковский и зарубежные музыканты (1970), p. 61–64.
  3. ↑ Letter 4293b to Friedrich Sieger, 6/18 January 1891. In his letter to Tchaikovsky of 23 July 1890 [N.S.] Sieger had spoken admiringly of The Sleeping Beauty, which he had studied in the piano transcription, "though I lament that I do not have the chance to hear this music so full of charm and gracefulness in an orchestral performance" — see Чайковский и зарубежные музыканты (1970), p. 63.
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