Letter 4498

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 6/18 October 1891
Addressed to Aleksandr Ziloti
Where written Maydanovo
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 3034)
Publication Русская музыкальная газета (1908), No. 47, p. 1048 (dated "5 October" [O.S.]) (abridged)
Александр Ильич Зилоти, 1863–1945. Воспоминания и письма (1963), p. 129
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVI-А (1976), p. 226

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
6 окт[ября]

Милый Саша! Я согласен, но советую очень подумать, прежде чем решить. Ввиду моего участия в симфон[ическом] концерте, будет ли достаточно интересно для публики моё появление? Боюсь, чтобы ты не ошибся в этом отношении. Но, повторяю, как хочешь — я совершенно согласен.

Обнимаю тебя.

П. Чайковский

Представь, до сих пор ещё не начал изучать Грига и Направника.

6 October

Dear Sasha! I agree, but advise you to think very hard before deciding [1]. In view of my participation in the symphony concert, would my appearance be sufficiently interesting for the public? I'm afraid you might be mistaken in this respect. But I repeat, as you wish — I completely agree.

I hug you.

P. Tchaikovsky

Just imagine, until now I still haven't begun to study the Grieg and Nápravník [2].

Notes and References

  1. Tchaikovsky was replying to a letter from Aleksandr Ziloti dated 4/16 October 1891, inviting Tchaikovsky to take part in a proposed concert in Saint Petersburg on 11/23 December 1891. This concert did not ultimately take place.
  2. Tchaikovsky was conducting Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, and the Fantasia on Russian Themes by Eduard Nápravník at Ziloti's concert in Moscow on 6/18 November 1891, as well as the premiere of his own symphonic ballad The Voyevoda.