Letter 2771 and Letter 155: Difference between pages
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{{letterhead | {{letterhead | ||
|Date= | |Date=12/24 October 1869 | ||
|To=[[Modest Tchaikovsky]] | |To=[[Modest Tchaikovsky]] | ||
|Place=[[ | |Place=[[Moscow]] | ||
|Language=Russian | |Language=Russian | ||
|Autograph=[[ | |Autograph=[[Saint Petersburg]] (Russia): {{RUS-SPsc}} (ф. 834, ед. хр. 36, л. 17–18) | ||
|Publication={{bib| | |Publication={{bib|1900/35|Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского ; том 1}} (1900), p. 334 (abridged)<br/>{{bib|1940/210|П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным ; том 1}} (1940), p. 134–135 (abridged)<br/>{{bib|1955/37|П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким}} (1955), p. 55–56 (abridged)<br/>{{bib|1959/50}} (1959), p.179 (abridged)<br/>{{bib|1981/81|Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography}} (1981), p. 54 (English translation; abridged)<br/>{{bibx|2009/2|Неизвестный Чайковский}} (2009), p. 254–255 | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Text== | ==Text and Translation== | ||
{{Lettertext | {{Lettertext | ||
|Language=Russian | |Language=Russian | ||
|Translator= | |Translator=Alexander Poznansky | ||
|Original text={{right|'' | |Original text={{right|''12 октября''}} | ||
{{centre|Достолюбезный братец!}} | |||
Я так завален делом, что с трудом нахожу время писать; оттого-то я и счастливлю тебя так редко письмами. | |||
Вот какие у меня дела: | |||
1) Аранжирую увертюру Антона Рубинштейна «Иоанн Грозный» в 4 руки.<br/>2) Доканчиваю и корректирую народные песни в 4 руки. <br/>3) Пишу увертюру к «Ромео и Джульетта». <br/>4) Приготавливаю лекции моего нового курса ''форм''. | |||
Кроме всего этого, я должен значительную часть времени жертв[ов]ать Константинову, приехавшему из Одессы ненадолго и совершенно мной завладевшему. Дома сижу довольно много; однакож вечером почти всегда ухожу, большею частью с Бибиковым, который за мной заезжает. | |||
Впрочем, не подумай чего-нибудь дурного: мы с ним поддерживаем друг друга на тернистой стезе добродетелей и стараемся быть чистыми как голуби. С Грузинским и Петашенькой почти не вижусь; последний заходил ко мне с преступной целью смотреть из наших окон в Кадетский корпус, находящийся ''Vis-à-vis'', но я стараюсь отделаться от этих компрометантных посещений и довольно удачно. | |||
Итальянская опера у нас в полном ходу; ''Маркизио'' очень замечательные певицы, но после ''Арто'' я не в состоянии кого бы то ни было слушать с наслаждением. Кстати, эта исключительно прелестная женщина в Петербурге и проживёт там 1½ месяца (не знаю хорошенько, зачем); постарайся её увидеть и думай, смотря на неё, что я чуть было не связался с ней узами Гименея. | |||
Очень радуюсь, что Меньшикова тебе нравится; я всегда был одним из немногих москвичей, которым она нравилась. Об моей опере ни слуху ни духу; я начинаю думать, что её вовсе не дадут; впрочем, только что написал Гедеонову письмо, в котором прошу его дать мне положительные сведения о том, пойдёт ли опера; мне кажется, что если б я был нахальнее и практичнее, то она бы уже шла теперь. | |||
На днях ко мне являлся пьяный ''Петровский'', твой бывший товарищ: Агафон его не принял, и отлично сделал. | |||
От Володи получил только одно письмо из Парижа; он здоров и, кажется, очень веселится с Рюминым. | |||
Целую тебя, мой милый Модька, и требую письма. | |||
{{right|Твой, П. Чайковский}} | {{right|Твой, П. Чайковский}} | ||
Бибиков тебя целует. | |||
|Translated text={{right|''12 October.''}} | |||
{{centre|My lovable brother!}} | |||
I'm just so overwhelmed with work that it's hard to find the time to write, and that's the reason why I so rarely make you happy with my letters. Here's what I've been doing: | |||
1) Arranging [[Anton Rubinstein]]'s overture "[[Ivan the Terrible (Rubinstein)|Ivan The Terrible]]" for 4 hands <ref name="note1"/>.<br/>2) Finishing off and correcting the folksongs for 4 hands <ref name="note2"/>.<br/>3) Writing the overture to "[[Romeo and Juliet]]" <ref name="note3"/>.<br/>4) Preparing lectures for my new course on ''form'' <ref name="note4"/>. | |||
Besides all this I have to give up a lot of my time to Konstantinov <ref name="note5"/>, who is briefly over from [[Odessa]], and has completely taken possession of me. I sit at home quite a lot, although in the evenings I almost always go out, mostly with Bibikov <ref name="note6"/> who calls for me. | |||
Anyway, don't think badly of me; the two of us just support one another on the thorny path of virtue and try to stay as pure as doves. I hardly ever see Gruzinsky or Petashenka <ref name="note7"/>; the latter used to drop by with criminal intent to observe the Cadet Corps situated ''across the way'', but I've been trying to rid myself from these compromising visits, with some success. | |||
The Italian opera is in full swing here: the ''Marchisios'' <ref name="note8"/> are most remarkable singers, but I'm unable to enjoy listening to anyone after ''[[Artôt]]'' <ref name="note9"/> . Incidentally, this exceptionally delightful lady is in [[Petersburg]] and has been living there for one-and-a-half months (I'm not exactly sure why); try to see her, and when you do, just think how I nearly became tied to her by the bonds of Hymen. | |||
I'm very glad that you liked Menshikova <ref name="note10"/>. I've always been one of the few Muscovites on good terms with her. As for my opera <ref name="note11"/>, I've not heard a thing; I'm starting to think it will never be put on; however, I've just written [[Gedeonov]] a letter asking him to give me firm information about my opera's fate; it seems to me that if I'd been bolder and more practical then it would have been on by now. | |||
The other day your former friend ''Petrovsky'' <ref name="note12"/> showed up drunk; Agafon <ref name="note13"/> did well not to let him in. | |||
I've received just one letter from [[Vladimir Shilovsky|Volodya]] <ref name="note14"/> in [[Paris]]; he is well and, it seems, having a good time with Ryumin <ref name="note15"/>. | |||
| | I kiss you my dear [[Modka]], and insist on a letter from you. | ||
{{right|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}} | |||
Bibikov sends you kisses. | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Notes and References== | |||
<references> | |||
<ref name="note1">At the request of the publisher [[Vasily Bessel]], Tchaikovsky had made an arrangement of [[Anton Rubinstein]]'s 'characteristic musical picture' [[Ivan the Terrible (Rubinstein)|Ivan the Terrible]] (Иван Грозный), Op. 79.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note2">Tchaikovsky's collection of [[Fifty Russian Folksongs]] arranged for piano duet, which would be published by [[Pyotr Jurgenson]] in [[Moscow]] in December 1869.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note3">The first version of Tchaikovsky's overture-fantasia (then just styled as an "overture") after [[Shakespeare]]'s tragedy, which he wrote during October and November 1869, and would revise in 1870 and 1880.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note4">Tchaikovsky was teaching a course on musical form at the [[Moscow]] Conservatory.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note5">Konstantin de Lazari (b. Konstantin Nikolayevich Konstantinov, 1838-1903), an actor and a society friend.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note6">N. V. Bibikov was an acquaintance of the composer's in [[Moscow]].</ref> | |||
<ref name="note7">Prince Pavel Ivanovich Gruzinsky (d. 1875) and Pyotr Petrovich Okoneshnikov, homosexual friends of Tchaikovsky in [[Moscow]].</ref> | |||
<ref name="note8">The Italian singers Barbara Marchisio (1833-1919) and her sister Carlota (1835-1872) performed with the Italian Opera in [[Saint Petersburg]].</ref> | |||
<ref name="note9">The previous year, Tchaikovsky had briefly been engaged to the Belgian opera singer [[Désirée Artôt]] (1835-1907).</ref> | |||
<ref name="note10">[[Aleksandra Menshikova]] (1840-1902), singer and actress at the Bolshoi Theatre in [[Moscow]], who in February 1869 had premiered the role of Marya Vlasyevna in Tchaikovsky's opera [[The Voyevoda (opera)|The Voyevoda]]. In November 1869 he would dedicate the first of his [[Six Romances, Op. 6]] to her.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note11">Tchaikovsky's second opera, [[Undina]], written during the first half of 1869, whose fate was currently in the hands of [[Stepan Gedeonov]], director of the Imperial Theatres.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note12">Dmitry Nikolayevich Petrovsky (1847-1913), a friend of [[Modest Tchaikovsky]]'s from the School of Jurisprudence.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note13">Agafon was [[Nikolay Rubinstein]]'s elderly servant, at the apartment where Tchaikovsky was living at this time.</ref> | |||
<ref name="note14">The composer's friend [[Vladimir Shilovsky]].</ref> | |||
<ref name="note15">Konstantin Ivanovich Ryumin (d. 1880s), trustee of [[Vladimir Shilovsky]]'s estate.</ref> | |||
</references> | |||
Latest revision as of 14:49, 9 February 2024
| Date | 12/24 October 1869 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Modest Tchaikovsky |
| Where written | Moscow |
| Language | Russian |
| Autograph Location | Saint Petersburg (Russia): National Library of Russia (ф. 834, ед. хр. 36, л. 17–18) |
| Publication | Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 1 (1900), p. 334 (abridged) П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным (1940), p. 134–135 (abridged) П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 55–56 (abridged) П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том V (1959), p.179 (abridged) Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 54 (English translation; abridged) Неизвестный Чайковский (2009), p. 254–255 |
Text and Translation
| Russian text (original) |
English translation By Alexander Poznansky |
12 октября Достолюбезный братец!
Я так завален делом, что с трудом нахожу время писать; оттого-то я и счастливлю тебя так редко письмами. Вот какие у меня дела: 1) Аранжирую увертюру Антона Рубинштейна «Иоанн Грозный» в 4 руки. Кроме всего этого, я должен значительную часть времени жертв[ов]ать Константинову, приехавшему из Одессы ненадолго и совершенно мной завладевшему. Дома сижу довольно много; однакож вечером почти всегда ухожу, большею частью с Бибиковым, который за мной заезжает. Впрочем, не подумай чего-нибудь дурного: мы с ним поддерживаем друг друга на тернистой стезе добродетелей и стараемся быть чистыми как голуби. С Грузинским и Петашенькой почти не вижусь; последний заходил ко мне с преступной целью смотреть из наших окон в Кадетский корпус, находящийся Vis-à-vis, но я стараюсь отделаться от этих компрометантных посещений и довольно удачно. Итальянская опера у нас в полном ходу; Маркизио очень замечательные певицы, но после Арто я не в состоянии кого бы то ни было слушать с наслаждением. Кстати, эта исключительно прелестная женщина в Петербурге и проживёт там 1½ месяца (не знаю хорошенько, зачем); постарайся её увидеть и думай, смотря на неё, что я чуть было не связался с ней узами Гименея. Очень радуюсь, что Меньшикова тебе нравится; я всегда был одним из немногих москвичей, которым она нравилась. Об моей опере ни слуху ни духу; я начинаю думать, что её вовсе не дадут; впрочем, только что написал Гедеонову письмо, в котором прошу его дать мне положительные сведения о том, пойдёт ли опера; мне кажется, что если б я был нахальнее и практичнее, то она бы уже шла теперь. На днях ко мне являлся пьяный Петровский, твой бывший товарищ: Агафон его не принял, и отлично сделал. От Володи получил только одно письмо из Парижа; он здоров и, кажется, очень веселится с Рюминым. Целую тебя, мой милый Модька, и требую письма. Твой, П. Чайковский Бибиков тебя целует. |
12 October. My lovable brother!
I'm just so overwhelmed with work that it's hard to find the time to write, and that's the reason why I so rarely make you happy with my letters. Here's what I've been doing: 1) Arranging Anton Rubinstein's overture "Ivan The Terrible" for 4 hands [1]. Besides all this I have to give up a lot of my time to Konstantinov [5], who is briefly over from Odessa, and has completely taken possession of me. I sit at home quite a lot, although in the evenings I almost always go out, mostly with Bibikov [6] who calls for me. Anyway, don't think badly of me; the two of us just support one another on the thorny path of virtue and try to stay as pure as doves. I hardly ever see Gruzinsky or Petashenka [7]; the latter used to drop by with criminal intent to observe the Cadet Corps situated across the way, but I've been trying to rid myself from these compromising visits, with some success. The Italian opera is in full swing here: the Marchisios [8] are most remarkable singers, but I'm unable to enjoy listening to anyone after Artôt [9] . Incidentally, this exceptionally delightful lady is in Petersburg and has been living there for one-and-a-half months (I'm not exactly sure why); try to see her, and when you do, just think how I nearly became tied to her by the bonds of Hymen. I'm very glad that you liked Menshikova [10]. I've always been one of the few Muscovites on good terms with her. As for my opera [11], I've not heard a thing; I'm starting to think it will never be put on; however, I've just written Gedeonov a letter asking him to give me firm information about my opera's fate; it seems to me that if I'd been bolder and more practical then it would have been on by now. The other day your former friend Petrovsky [12] showed up drunk; Agafon [13] did well not to let him in. I've received just one letter from Volodya [14] in Paris; he is well and, it seems, having a good time with Ryumin [15]. I kiss you my dear Modka, and insist on a letter from you. Yours, P. Tchaikovsky Bibikov sends you kisses. |
Notes and References
- ↑ At the request of the publisher Vasily Bessel, Tchaikovsky had made an arrangement of Anton Rubinstein's 'characteristic musical picture' Ivan the Terrible (Иван Грозный), Op. 79.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky's collection of Fifty Russian Folksongs arranged for piano duet, which would be published by Pyotr Jurgenson in Moscow in December 1869.
- ↑ The first version of Tchaikovsky's overture-fantasia (then just styled as an "overture") after Shakespeare's tragedy, which he wrote during October and November 1869, and would revise in 1870 and 1880.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky was teaching a course on musical form at the Moscow Conservatory.
- ↑ Konstantin de Lazari (b. Konstantin Nikolayevich Konstantinov, 1838-1903), an actor and a society friend.
- ↑ N. V. Bibikov was an acquaintance of the composer's in Moscow.
- ↑ Prince Pavel Ivanovich Gruzinsky (d. 1875) and Pyotr Petrovich Okoneshnikov, homosexual friends of Tchaikovsky in Moscow.
- ↑ The Italian singers Barbara Marchisio (1833-1919) and her sister Carlota (1835-1872) performed with the Italian Opera in Saint Petersburg.
- ↑ The previous year, Tchaikovsky had briefly been engaged to the Belgian opera singer Désirée Artôt (1835-1907).
- ↑ Aleksandra Menshikova (1840-1902), singer and actress at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, who in February 1869 had premiered the role of Marya Vlasyevna in Tchaikovsky's opera The Voyevoda. In November 1869 he would dedicate the first of his Six Romances, Op. 6 to her.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky's second opera, Undina, written during the first half of 1869, whose fate was currently in the hands of Stepan Gedeonov, director of the Imperial Theatres.
- ↑ Dmitry Nikolayevich Petrovsky (1847-1913), a friend of Modest Tchaikovsky's from the School of Jurisprudence.
- ↑ Agafon was Nikolay Rubinstein's elderly servant, at the apartment where Tchaikovsky was living at this time.
- ↑ The composer's friend Vladimir Shilovsky.
- ↑ Konstantin Ivanovich Ryumin (d. 1880s), trustee of Vladimir Shilovsky's estate.
