Letter 2212

Tchaikovsky Research
Revision as of 12:45, 1 March 2020 by Brett (talk | contribs) (Text replacement - "Петр " to "Пётр ")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Date 29 January/10 February 1883
Addressed to Anna Merkling
Where written Paris
Language Russian
Autograph Location unknown
Publication П. И. Чайковский. С. И. Танеев. Письма (1951), p. 216
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XII (1970), p. 45–46
Notes Manuscript copy in Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (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.

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Luis Sundkvist
Париж
29-го января 1883 г[ода]

Голубушка Аня! Прости, что не сразу ответил, да и сегодня, кажется, целого письма не допишу и, вообще, заранее прошу прощения, если не буду тебе часто писать. Я и вообще-то ленив на письма, а тут ещё работа и тревоги о Тане, которая с нами. Единственное время — вечер, но вечером для меня необходимо полное бездействие, и я или в театре, или ищу развлечения посредством прогулки по Парижу. В Италию не придётся ехать: нужно оставаться при Тане в Париже. Она была у Шарко, и он поручил её надзору своего помощника. Обещают вылечить её, но это будет трудно, т. е. ей трудно будет переносить это лечение. Завтра она поступает [в] maison de santé. И жалко, и страшно. Ну, авось, Бог даст, — всё кончится благополучно. Модя живёт так же, как я, т. е. всё свободное время употребляет на занятие, но у него гораздо его меньше (т. е. времени), ибо собственно он-то и состоит при Тане и принял все заботы о ней на себя. Не удивляйся, что он уехал, не простившись с тобой; ему в самом деле не до того было. Большое счастье, что мы в Париже. Никакими красотами Италии и итальянской природы я бы теперь не мог восхищатся, — для этого нужно, чтобы на душе был мир. Нужны развлечения, а их в Париже бездна. Но статуэтку я всё-таки тебе привезу, ибо в Париже можно достать прелестные. Счастье также, что у меня работа теперь не требует вдохновения, а лишь усердного сидения за письменным столом (я не сочиняю, а оркеструю уже сочинённое). Театры здесь прелесть. Таня несколько раз была, и они очень развлекли её. Насчёт билета Модя просит передать, что, вообразив тебя уже обладательницей билета, он распорядился своим иначе и не может отдать; просит прощения

Целую, обнимаю. Адрес всё тот же.

Paris
29th January 1883

Golubushka Anya! Forgive me for not having replied at once. But today, too, I don't think I will be able to finish the whole letter. Indeed, I ask your forgiveness in advance in the case that I should not write to you frequently. I am generally quite lazy when it comes to writing letters, but now in addition there's the work I have to do, as well as my concern for Tanya, who is with us [1]. The only spare time I have is in the evenings, but in the evenings it is essential for me to indulge in complete idleness, and I am either at the theatre or I seek some diversion by strolling through Paris. I won't get to go to Italy: I have to stay in Paris to be at Tanya's side. She has been to see Charcot, and he entrusted her to the supervision of his assistant [2]. They have promised to cure her, but it will be difficult — that is, it will be difficult for her to go through with this treatment. Tomorrow she will check into a maison de santé [3]. I feel both sorry and frightened for her. Well, perhaps, God willing, everything will turn out all right. Modya is leading the same kind of life as I am — that is, he devotes all his spare time to his work, only he has far less of it (of time, that is), because, properly speaking, it is he who is here to accompany Tanya and who has taken upon himself all responsibility for her [4]. Don't be surprised that he left without saying farewell to you — he really just wasn't in the mood for that. It is very fortunate that we are in Paris. I would not be able to delight now in any of the beauties of Italy and Italian nature: for that I would need peace of mind. [Now] I need diversions, and there are masses of those in Paris. However, I shall definitely bring you a statuette [5], because there are some delightful ones to be had in Paris. It is also fortunate that my work now does not require inspiration, but, rather, just diligent sitting at my writing-desk (I am not composing, but orchestrating what I have already composed) [6]. The theatres here are marvellous. Tanya has been several times, and they have amused her very much. With regard to that ticket, Modya asks me to tell you that, because he thought you already owned a ticket, he has disposed of his otherwise and cannot give it to you: he begs your pardon [7].

I kiss and embrace you. My address is still the same.

Notes and References

  1. See Letter 2207 to Anna Merkling, 24 January/5 February 1883, in which Tchaikovsky explained that his brother Modest had brought their niece Tatyana Davydova ("Tanya") to Paris, where she was to consult the famous neurologist Charcot regarding treatment for her morphine addiction.
  2. Charcot's assistant was a certain Doctor Ferrer, who would subsequently fall in love with Tatyana and even ask for her hand in marriage, though nothing ultimately came of this. See Пётр Чайковский. Биография, том II (2009), p. 209.
  3. A private hospital.
  4. Tatyana Davydova came to Paris not just to receive treatment for her morphine addiction, but also because she was pregnant with an illegitimate child. The only members of her family to whom she confided her predicament were her uncles Modest and the composer. They both helped to look after Tatyana during her confinement, and, when, on 26 April/8 May 1883, she gave birth to a boy, christened Georges-Léon, Tchaikovsky arranged for the child to be taken care of by a French family for the time being.
  5. See Letter 2153 to Anna Merkling, 2/14 November 1882, and the preceding letters to her, in which Tchaikovsky jestingly chastises himself for having failed to keep his promise to bring her a replica of a classical statue from Rome.
  6. During his long stay in Paris, which lasted until early/mid May 1883 Tchaikovsky managed to complete the orchestration of his latest opera, Mazepa.
  7. This probably refers to a season ticket for the Russian Musical Society's symphony concerts in Saint Petersburg. Anna Merkling liked to go to concerts very much, but she was not well-off and she had evidently hoped that her cousin Modest, who she knew would be going abroad for a long time, might be able to lend her his ticket.