Letter 3486

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 28 January/9 February 1888
Addressed to Nikolay Hubert and Aleksandra Hubert
Where written Berlin
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 101)
Publication Прошлое русской музыки. Материалы и исследования, том 1 (1920), p. 44–45
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIV (1974), p. 356

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
9 февр[аля 18]88 г[ода]

Тоничка и Баташа!

Я не в состоянии писать — слишком измучен. Вчера состоялся концерт. Успех был большой. Но, конечно, оттого что много русских было. Юргенсон, вероятно, уже уехал в Прагу. Прошу Вас не забывать меня. Посылаю вышедшие сегодня статьи. Вообще газеты очень расположены ко мне, хотя и встречаются нелестные подробности. Оркестр играл великолепно. Музыканты относились дружески и даже восторженно. Зилоти имел большой успех. Устал я как миллион измождённых собак. Не верю, что переживу все это. Но, впрочем, ничего. Обедам, ужинам конца нет. Посылаю Вам тысячу приветствий. Сообщите об успехе концерта общим друзьям.

П. Чайковский

О! Как я жажду удрать!!!!!!

9 February 1888

I'm in no state to write — much too exhausted. The concert took place yesterday [1]. The success was great, but that's certainly because many Russians were there. I ask you not to forget me. I'm sending you articles that came out today. In general the press are very well disposed towards me, although one finds some unwarranted details [2]. The orchestra played magnificently. The musicians treated me amicably and even enthusiastically. Ziloti had great success. I'm as tired as a million starving dogs. I don't believe I will survive all this. But anyway, it doesn't matter. There are dinners and suppers without end. I send you a thousand greetings. Tell our mutual friends about the success of the concert.

P. Tchaikovsky

Oh how badly I want to run away!

Notes and References

  1. On 27 January/8 February 1888, Tchaikovsky conducted the following works at a Philharmonic Society concert in Berlin: Romeo and Juliet, overture-fantasia; Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor (soloist: Aleksandr Ziloti); the Introduction and Fugue from the Suite No. 1, Op. 43; an orchestral arrangement of the Andante cantabile from String Quartet No. 1, Op. 11; The Year 1812, festival overture, Op.49. The programme also included the songs Do Not Believe, My Friend and None but the Lonely Heart (Nos. 1 and 6 of the Six Romances, Op. 6), It Was in the Early Spring (No. 2 of the Six Romances, Op. 38), and Sleepless Nights (No. 1 of the Twelve Romances, Op. 60), all performed by Aline Friede.
  2. Tchaikovsky's concert was reviewed in several Berlin newspapers, although it is not possible to establish which of these he sent to the Huberts.