Anna Merkling and Aleksey Sofronov: Difference between pages

Tchaikovsky Research
(Difference between pages)
 
 
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{{picture|file=Merkling_Anna.jpg|caption='''Anna Merkling''' (1830-1911)}}
{{picture|file=Aleksey Sofronov.jpg|caption='''Aleksey Sofronov''' (1859-1925)}}
Cousin of the composer (b. 1830; d. 1911), born '''''Anna Petrovna Tchaikovskaya''''' (Анна Петровна Чайковская); known during her first marriage as '''''Anna Petrovna Yegorova''''' (Анна Петровна Егорова), and after her second marriage as '''''Anna Petrovna Merkling''''' (Анна Петровна Мерклинг).
Long-time servant of the composer (b. 1859 at Tiliktino, near [[Klin]]; d. 1925 at [[Klin]]), born '''''Aleksey Ivanovich Sofronov''''' (Алексей Иванович Софронов), known affectionately by Tchaikovsky as '''''Alyosha''''' (Алëша) or '''''Lyonya''''' (Лёня).


Anna was the oldest child of the composer's uncle [[Pyotr Petrovich Tchaikovsky]] (1789–1871) and his wife Yevdokiya (b. Berens). She married a Mr Yegorov when she was quite young, but they were not happy together, and after the death of an infant daughter they separated. Soon afterwards Anna married for the second time to a Guards' officer, Pyotr Ivanovich Merkling, by whom she had a daughter, Lyubov. However, she was not happy in this marriage either. Her new husband made no progress whatsoever in his military career, and he treated Anna badly. Because of his disagreeable character he was forced to leave his regiment, and on some whim he decided to join the police, accepting a lowly position. But even there he did not get on with his superiors, and he soon left the police as well. He eventually ended up working as a caretaker in a school in [[Saint Petersburg]]. Anna, who came from a highly cultured family, suffered greatly as she saw herself and her husband come down in the world, but she nevertheless retained a cheerful outlook on life and liked to take part in amateur theatricals and attend concerts <ref name="note1"/>.
In 1871, Aleksey first stood in for his older brother [[Mikhail Sofronov|Mikhail]] (1848–1932) as Tchaikovsky's servant in [[Moscow]]. After [[Mikhail Sofronov|Mikhail]] left Tchaikovsky's service in 1877, Aleksey stayed on to serve the composer for the rest of his days. Tchaikovsky became very attached to Aleksey, who was always staunchly loyal to his master, and helped to found the memorial museum at [[Klin]] after the composer's death.


Although Anna was ten years older than Tchaikovsky, they were inseparable companions from 1852 onwards, when Tchaikovsky's parents moved to [[Saint Petersburg]], and especially after the death of his [[mother]] in 1854. They were united by a love of mischief and often devised practical jokes together. Anna would remain Tchaikovsky's favourite cousin all his life, since he valued her ability to rise above adversity thanks to her cheerful character. When her husband suffered financial problems Tchaikovsky lent them a hand <ref name="note2"/>.
Tchaikovsky was also godfather to Aleksey's son Georgy (b. 1892), by his second wife Yekaterina (b. 1873).
 
In her memoirs of the composer, [[Aleksandra Panayeva-Kartsova]] reported the following conversation which took place between Tchaikovsky and his beloved cousin shortly after the concert in [[Saint Petersburg]] on 16/28 October 1893 at which he had conducted the premiere of his [[Sixth Symphony]]:
 
{{quote|After the concert he saw home his cousin Anna Petrovna Merkling, with whom he had been on very friendly terms ever since his childhood. She was one of the first to appreciate him; she worshipped his talent, and he would constantly share with her his impressions, thoughts, and plans. On this occasion he asked her if she had understood what his new symphony expressed. She replied that the impression she had was that in it he had described his own life.}}
 
{{quote|— Yes, you've guessed right! — he exclaimed joyfully and started to explain it to her — The first movement is childhood and vague strivings after music. The second is youth and merry high society life. The third is the struggle for existence and the achievement of glory. And as for the last movement, — he added cheerfully, — that is the ''De profundis'', with which we all end, but for me that is still a long way ahead; I feel so much energy in me, so many creative impulses; I know that I shall yet create a lot of good things, and even better than those I have created so far" <ref name="note3"/>.}}
 
==Dedications==
In 1882, Tchaikovsky dedicated his piano piece ''Menuetto scherzoso'' — No. 3 of the [[Six Pieces, Op. 51]] — "à Madame Annette Mercling".


==Correspondence with Tchaikovsky==
==Correspondence with Tchaikovsky==
79 letters from the composer to Anna Merkling have survived, dating from 1871 to 1893, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:
117 letters from Tchaikovsky to Aleksey Sofronov have survived, dating from 1875 to 1893, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:
* '''[[Letter 245]]''' – 16/28 December 1871, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 405]]''' – 19 June/1 July 1875, from [[Usovo]] (addressed jointly to Aleksey and his brother [[Mikhail Sofronov]])
* '''[[Letter 350]]''' – 25 April/7 May 1874, from [[Naples]]
* '''[[Letter 469]]''' – 7/19 June 1876, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 1602]]''' 27 September/9 October 1880, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 479]] – 3/15 July 1876, from [[Vichy]]
* '''[[Letter 1920]]''' – 27 December 1881/8 January 1882, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 608a]]''' – 1/13 October 1877, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 1935]]''' – 15/27 January 1882, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 609a]]''' – 5/17 October 1877, from [[Berlin]]
* '''[[Letter 2023]]''' – 17/29 May 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 619]] – 16/28 October 1877, from [[Clarens]]
* '''[[Letter 2046]]''' – 18/30 June 1882, from [[Grankino]]
* '''[[Letter 629]]''' – 27 October/8 November 1877 (?), from [[Clarens]]
* '''[[Letter 2153]]''' – 2/14 November 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 936]]''' – 9/21 October 1878, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2194]]''' – 10/22 January 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 939]]''' – 12/24 October 1878, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2207]]''' – 24 January/5 February 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 941]]''' – 16/28 October 1878, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2212]]''' – 29 January/10 February 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 944]]''' – 18/30 or 19/31 October 1878 (?), from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2232]]''' – 1/13 March 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 952]]''' – 26 October/7 November 1878, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2276]]''' – 27 April/9 May 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 1149]]''' – 6/18 April 1879, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 2324]]''' 8/20 August 1883, from [[Podushkino]]
* [[Letter 1219]] – 28 June/10 July 1879, from [[Nizy]]
* '''[[Letter 2329]]''' – 16/28 August 1883, from [[Podushkino]]
* '''[[Letter 1286]]''' – 6/18 September 1879, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2360]]''' – 6/18 October 1883, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 1292]]''' – 11/23 September 1879, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 2477]]''' – 27 April/9 May 1884, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 1618]] – 27 October/8 November 1880, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 2590]]''' – 12/24 November 1884, from [[Davos]]
* '''[[Letter 1656]]''' – 26 December 1880/7 January 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 2665]]''' – 28 February/12 March 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 1659]]''' – 29 December 1880/10 January 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 2718]] – 4/16 June 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 1672]]''' – 29 January/10 February 1881, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 2732]] – 6/18 July 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1674]] – 2/14 February 1881, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 2766]] – 13/25 September 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1677]] – 10/22 February 1881, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 2769]] – 20 September/2 October 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1687]] – 19 February/3 March 1881, from [[Florence]]
* '''[[Letter 2790]]''' by 10/22 October 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1696]] – 26 February/10 March 1881, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 2792]]''' 11/23 October 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1705]] – 10/22 March 1881, from [[Nice]]
* [[Letter 2831]] – 9/21 December 1885, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1720]] – 28 March/9 April 1881, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 2889]] – 14/26 February 1886, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1730]] – 20 April/2 May 1881, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 2895]] – 20 February/4 March 1886, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1731]] – 25 April/7 May 1881, from [[Moscow]]
* [[Letter 2946]] – 3/15 May 1886, from the Black Sea
* [[Letter 1738]] – 2/14 May 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 3046]] – 12/24 September 1886, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1746]] – 10/22 May 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 3132]]''' 26 December 1886/7 January 1887, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1756]] – 18/30 May 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 3180]]''' 12/24 February 1887, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1773]] – 4/16 June 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 3208]] – 25 March/6 April 1887, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 1794a]] – 24 June/6 July 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 3277]] – 26 June/8 July 1887, from [[Borzhom]]
* [[Letter 1800]] – 1/13 July 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 3300]] – 26 July/7 August 1887, from [[Aachen]]
* [[Letter 1811]] – 16/28 July 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 3592]]''' – 14/26 June 1888, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 1822]] – 2/14 August 1881, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 3601]]''' 22 June/4 July 1888, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 1883]] – 1/13 November 1881, from [[Kiev]]
* [[Letter 3606]] – 1/13 July 1888, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 1887]] – 7/19 November 1881, from [[Kiev]]
* [[Letter 3691]] – 8/20 October 1888, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 1891]] – 14/26 November 1881, from [[Vienna]]
* '''[[Letter 3762]]''' 9/21 January 1889, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 1901]] – 23 November/5 December 1881, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 3810]]''' 28 February/12 March 1889, from [[Hamburg]]
* [[Letter 1907]] – 6/18 December 1881, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 3889]]''' – 27 June/9 July 1889, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 1913]] – 15/27 December 1881, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 3890]] – 30 June/12 July 1889, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* '''[[Letter 1917]]''' 24 December 1881/5 January 1882, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 3924]]''' – 21 August/2 September 1889, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* '''[[Letter 1922]]''' – 29 December 1881/10 January 1882, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 4025]]''' – 6/18 February 1890, from [[Florence]]
* '''[[Letter 1938]]''' – 18/30 January 1882, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 4028]] – 7/19 February 1890, from [[Florence]]
* '''[[Letter 1942]]''' 22 January/3 February 1882, from [[Rome]]
* '''[[Letter 4033]]''' – 13/25 February 1890, from [[Florence]]
* '''[[Letter 1950]]''' – 30 January/11 February 1882, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 4042]] – 19 February/3 March 1890, from [[Florence]]
* [[Letter 1962]] – 11/23 February 1882, from [[Naples]]
* [[Letter 4059]] – 5/17 March 1890, from [[Florence]]
* [[Letter 1969]] – 16/28 February 1882, from [[Naples]]
* [[Letter 4082]] – 27 March/8 April 1890, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 1979]] – 24 February/8 March 1882, from [[Naples]]
* '''[[Letter 4093]]''' 7/19 April 1890, from [[Rome]]
* [[Letter 2012]] – 2/14 May 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 4143]] – 12/24 June 1890, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 2022]] – 16/28 May 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 4162]]''' 2/14 July 1890, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 2037]] – 3/15 June 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 4223]] – 28 September/10 October 1890, from [[Tiflis]]
* [[Letter 2042]] – 12/24 June 1882, from [[Grankino]]
* [[Letter 4235]] – 16/28 October 1890, from [[Tiflis]]
* [[Letter 2049]] – 22 June/4 July 1882, from [[Grankino]]
* '''[[Letter 4293]]''' 6/18 January 1891, from [[Frolovskoye]]
* [[Letter 2056]] – 30 June/12 July 1882, from [[Grankino]]
* '''[[Letter 4333]]''' 18 February/2 March 1891, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 2062]] – 14/26 July 1882, from [[Grankino]]
* [[Letter 4359]] – 30 March/11 April 1891, from [[Rouen]]
* [[Letter 2096]] – 2/14 September 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 4367a]]''' 15/27 April 1891, from [[New York]]
* [[Letter 2104]] – 11/23 September 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 4373]]''' 22 April/4 May 1891, from [[New York]]
* [[Letter 2110]] – 18/30 September 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* [[Letter 4390]] – 2/14 June 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 2129]] – 8/20 October 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 4395]]''' 3/15 June 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 2140]] – 20 October/1 November 1882, from [[Kamenka]]
* '''[[Letter 4401]]''' 11/23 June 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 2169]] – 5/17 December 1882, from [[Moscow]]
* [[Letter 4438]] – 8/20 July 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 2175]]''' 21 December 1882/2 January 1883, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 4463]] – 2/14 September 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 2191]]''' 8/20 January 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4475]] – 12/24 September 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 2198]]''' 14/26 January 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4478]] – 22 September/4 October 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* '''[[Letter 2208]]''' 24 January/5 February 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 4499]]''' – 7/19 October 1891, from [[Maydanovo]]
* [[Letter 2220]] – 7/19 February 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 4591]]''' 4/16 January 1892, from [[Berlin]]
* [[Letter 2223]] – 12/24 February 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4693]] – 20 May/1 June 1892, from [[Klin]]
* [[Letter 2229]] – 26 February/10 March 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4716]] – 28 June/10 July 1892, from [[Vichy]]
* [[Letter 2237]] – 11/23 March 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4733]] – 17/29 July 1892, from [[Klin]]
* [[Letter 2251]] – 30 March/11 April 1883, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4751]] – 12/24 August 1892, from [[Klin]]
* [[Letter 2279]] – 28 April/10 May 1883, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 4838]]''' 31 December 1892/12 January 1893, from [[Brussels]]
* [[Letter 2431]] – 8/20 February 1884, from [[Berlin]]
* '''[[Letter 4850]]''' 24 January/5 February 1893, from [[Odessa]]
* [[Letter 2438]] – 18 February/1 March 1884, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 4896]]''' 19/31 March 1893, from [[Klin]]
* [[Letter 2442]] – 22 February/5 March 1884, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4975]] – 19/31 July 1893, from [[Klin]]
* [[Letter 2446]] – 26 February/9 March 1884, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 4993]] – 28 July/9 August 1893, from [[Klin]]
* [[Letter 2614]] – 1/13 December 1884, from [[Paris]]
* [[Letter 5051]] – 29 September/11 October 1893, from [[Klin]]
* '''[[Letter 3254]]''' 11/23 May 1887, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* [[Letter 3288]] – 18/30 July 1887, from [[Aachen]]
* '''[[Letter 3313]]''' – 7/19 August 1887, from [[Aachen]]
* '''[[Letter 3320]]''' – 15/27 August 1887, from [[Aachen]]
* '''[[Letter 3379]]''' – 9/21 October 1887, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 3451]]''' – 30 December 1887/11 January 1888, from [[Lübeck]]
* '''[[Letter 3476]]''' – 15/27 January 1888, from [[Leipzig]]
* '''[[Letter 3483]]''' – 23 January/4 February 1888, from [[Berlin]]
* '''[[Letter 3491]]''' – 4/16 February 1888, from [[Prague]]
* '''[[Letter 3510]]''' – 1/13 March 1888, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 3521]]''' – 12/24 March 1888, from [[London]]
* [[Letter 3538]] – 28 March/9 April 1888, from [[Tiflis]]
* '''[[Letter 3775]]''' – 24 January/5 February 1889, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 3780]]''' – 2/14 February 1889, from [[Frankfurt]]
* '''[[Letter 3803]]''' – 17 February/1 March 1889, from [[Leipzig]]
* '''[[Letter 3822]]''' – 10/22 March 1889, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 3833]]''' – 31 March/12 April 1889, from [[London]]
* '''[[Letter 3840]]''' – 17/29 April 1889, from [[Tiflis]]
* '''[[Letter 3934]]''' – 12/24 September 1889, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 4366]]''' – 5/17 April 1891, from [[Rouen]]
* '''[[Letter 4375]]''' – 23 April/5 May 1891, from [[New York]]
* '''[[Letter 4457]]''' – 15/27 August 1891, from [[Ukolovo]]
* '''[[Letter 4521]]''' – 23 October/4 November 1891, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 4531a]]''' – 31 October/12 November 1891, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 4577]]''' – 15/27 December 1891, from [[Moscow]]
* '''[[Letter 4587]]''' – 30 December 1891/11 January 1892, from [[Warsaw]]
* '''[[Letter 4600]]''' – 12/24 January 1892, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 4601]]''' – 13/25 January 1892, from [[Paris]]
* '''[[Letter 4700]]''' – 31 May/12 June 1892, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 4703]]''' – 2/14 June 1892, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 4707]]''' – 17/29 June 1892, from [[Vichy]]
* '''[[Letter 4792]]''' – 28 October/9 November 1892, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 4811]]''' – 24 November/6 December 1892, from [[Saint Petersburg]]
* '''[[Letter 4839]]''' – 31 December 1892/12 January 1893, from [[Brussels]]
* '''[[Letter 4922]]''' – 27 April/9 May 1893, from [[Moscow]]
* [[Letter 4933]] – 15/27 May 1893, from [[Berlin]]
* '''[[Letter 4947]]''' – 1/13 June 1893, from [[Cambridge]]
* '''[[Letter 4965]]''' – 1/13 July 1893, from [[Grankino]]
* '''[[Letter 5024]]''' – 3/15 September 1893, from [[Saint Petersburg]]


146 letters from Anna Merkling to the composer, dating from 1880 to 1893, are preserved in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]] (a{{sup|4}}, Nos. 2845–2988 & 3103).
128 letters from Aleksey Sofronov to Tchaikovsky, dating from 1877 to 1893, are preserved in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]] (a{{sup|4}}, Nos. 4062–4189).


==Bibliography==
==External Links==
* {{bib|1900/34}} (1900)
* [[wikipedia:ru:Софронов,_Алексей_Иванович|Wikipedia]] (in Russian)
* {{bib|1951/48}} (1951)


==Notes and References==
[[Category:People|Sofronov, Aleksey]]
<references>
[[Category:Correspondents|Sofronov, Aleksey]]
<ref name="note1">See the introduction to {{bib|1951/49|П. И. Чайковский. С. И. Танеев. Письма}} (1951), p. 205.</ref>
<ref name="note2">See the information provided by David Brown in {{bib|1993/33|Tchaikovsky Remembered}} (1993), p.13-14, where the recollections of Anna Merkling are quoted as reported by [[Modest Tchaikovsky]] in {{bib|1997/94|Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского ; том 1}} (1997), p.71–72.</ref>
<ref name="note3">This conversation between Tchaikovsky and Anna Merkling on the evening of 16/28 October 1893 is reported by [[Aleksandra Panayeva-Kartsova]] in her memoirs, included in {{bib|1980/24|Воспоминания о П. И. Чайковском}} (1980), p. 136. Here is Tchaikovsky's declaration in the original Russian: " — Да, ты угадала, — обрадовался он и начал ей объяснять её [симфонию]. Первая часть — детство и смутные стремления к музыке. Вторая — молодость и светская весёлая жизнь. Третья — жизненная борьба и достижение славы. — Ну а последняя, — добавил он весело, — это «De profundis», чем все кончаем, но для меня это ещё далеко, я чувствую в себе столько энергии, столько творческих сил; я знаю, что теперь создам ещё много, много хорошего и лучшего, чем до сих пор".</ref>
</references>
[[Category:People|Merkling, Anna]]
[[Category:Correspondents|Merkling, Anna]]
[[Category:Dedicatees|Merkling, Anna]]
[[Category:Family|Merkling, Anna]]
__NOTOC__

Revision as of 14:02, 13 February 2024

Aleksey Sofronov (1859-1925)

Long-time servant of the composer (b. 1859 at Tiliktino, near Klin; d. 1925 at Klin), born Aleksey Ivanovich Sofronov (Алексей Иванович Софронов), known affectionately by Tchaikovsky as Alyosha (Алëша) or Lyonya (Лёня).

In 1871, Aleksey first stood in for his older brother Mikhail (1848–1932) as Tchaikovsky's servant in Moscow. After Mikhail left Tchaikovsky's service in 1877, Aleksey stayed on to serve the composer for the rest of his days. Tchaikovsky became very attached to Aleksey, who was always staunchly loyal to his master, and helped to found the memorial museum at Klin after the composer's death.

Tchaikovsky was also godfather to Aleksey's son Georgy (b. 1892), by his second wife Yekaterina (b. 1873).

Correspondence with Tchaikovsky

117 letters from Tchaikovsky to Aleksey Sofronov have survived, dating from 1875 to 1893, of which those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:

128 letters from Aleksey Sofronov to Tchaikovsky, dating from 1877 to 1893, are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, Nos. 4062–4189).

External Links