Letter 2861

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 19/31 January 1886
Addressed to Ippolit Shpazhinsky
Where written Maydanovo
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a8, No. 463)
Publication Культура и театра (1921), No. 6, p. 39–40
Чайковский на Московской сцене (1940), p. 432–433
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIII (1971), p. 252.

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Luis Sundkvist
19 января
с[ело] Майданово

Дорогой Ипполит Васильевич!

Спасибо за милейшее письмецо Ваше. Очень сокрушаюсь, что не застану Вас. Но во всяком случае у Юльи Петровны буду и предварительно дам ей знать. А знаете что, голубчик? Ведь известие, что Вы уедете 23-го, ничего мне не давши, несколько сокрушает меня. Я так бодро и хорошо принялся за работу, что к концу будущей недели, даст Бог, кончу 2-е действие. Пока Вы съездите, пока вернётесь, пока напишете что-нибудь — пройдёт не мало времени. Смерть не хочется охлаждать свой пыл долгим промежутком. Ведь, признаться, я думал, что 1-го февраля я уже что-нибудь получу от Вас.

Всё это я пишу не для того, чтобы упрекнуть Вас; ещё менее для того, чтобы Вы сейчас же засели за работу или, чего Боже сохрани, отложили из-за меня свой отъезд. А не найдётся ли у Вас хоть каких-нибудь отрывков 3-го или 4-го действия? Если бы я, напр[имер], имел сцену Кумы с Княжичем, как бы это было хорошо!!!

А впрочем, знайте, что ни малейшей претензии не буду иметь, если и ничего не получу. Главное, чтобы Вы писали не через силу, а с любовью, и потому, если Вы устали и едете ради отдыха — нечего делать, подожду до Вашего возвращения, а пока какой-нибудь мелочью займусь. Желаю Вам хорошо проехаться. Крепко жму Вашу ручку.

Искренно любящий, благодарный во всяком случае.

П. Чайковский

Всем Вашим крепко кланяюсь.

19 January
Maydanovo village

Thank you for your ever so nice little letter. I am very aggrieved that I shall not find you [in Moscow] [1]. But I will in any case call on Yuliya Petrovna and let her know in advance [2]. Do you know what, golubchik? Well, the news that you are leaving on the 23rd without having given me anything somewhat distresses me [3]. I have set about this work so briskly and successfully that by the end of next week, God willing, I shall have finished the second act. Your trip means that it will take quite a long time before you can write anything more. I really don't want my ardour to be damped by a long interruption. After all, I must confess that I had been expecting to receive something from you already by 1 February.

I am writing all this not with a view to reproaching you, and still less to make you sit down to work right now or, God forbid, to force you to postpone your trip because of me. But are you sure you don't have some fragments from the third or fourth act to hand? If, for example, I had the scene between Kuma and the Prince's son, that would be so marvellous!!!

Still, rest assured that I shall not feel the slightest grudge against you if I do not receive anything after all. The most important thing is that you should write [the libretto] not by dint of overworking yourself, but with love. Therefore, if you are tired and are going away to get some rest, then it can't be helped and I shall just wait until your return, occupying myself with some trifle in the meantime. I wish you a good journey. I shake your hand warmly.

Your sincerely affectionate, and in any case grateful

P. Tchaikovsky

Warm regards to all your family.

Notes and References

  1. In his letter to Tchaikovsky of 17/29 January 1886 Shpazhinsky had mentioned that the following week he would be leaving Moscow for approximately two weeks. It was during that fortnight that Tchaikovsky intended to make a brief visit to Moscow. Shpazhinsky's letter has been published in Чайковский на московской сцене (1940), p. 431–432.
  2. In his letter of 17/29 January 1886 Shpazhinsky had asked Tchaikovsky to call on his wife Yuliya and tell her when it would be convenient for him to come to Moscow to have dinner with them later that winter.
  3. Tchaikovsky had so far received from Shpazhinsky just the first two acts of the libretto for The Enchantress, and he was very keen to have the libretto for Act III, in particular.