Letter 4590

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 3/15 January 1892
Addressed to Modest Tchaikovsky
Where written Warsaw
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 1986)
Publication Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 3 (1902), p. 520 (abridged)
П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 506
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVI-Б (1979), p. 13
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 506 (English translation)

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
Варшава
3 янв[аря]

Едва могу написать только несколько слов о себе. Вчера состоялся мой концерт в Большом театре. Он был блестящий во всех отношениях. Оркестр (который очень полюбил меня) играл прекрасно. Барцевич с необычайным блеском сыграл мой концерт, а Фриде чудесно пела. В семействе Фриде я бывал ежедневно; необыкновенно симпатичные люди. Третьего дня был большой парадный вечер у Гроссмана в мою честь. Польские Графини были со мной очаровательно любезны. Вообще меня всячески фетировали. Только Гурко не оказал ни малейшего внимания. Вчера появился Фаня. В общем, я весьма доволен, но всё-таки скучаю, томлюсь и мечтаю о возвращении домой. Через три часа еду в Гамбург. Придётся самому дирижировать «Онегиным», — уж очень пристал Поллини. Всех вас нежно целую и обнимаю.

П. Чайковский

Ежедневно бываю здесь в театре. Видел 2 раза «Cavalleria Rusticana». Производит сильное впечатление. Был и в драматическом театре. Хорошо играют.

Warsaw
3 January

I can hardly write a few words about myself. Yesterday my concert took place at the Grand Theatre [1]. It was brilliant in all respects. The orchestra (who were very fond of me) played excellently. Barcewicz played my concerto with extradordinay brilliance, and Fride sang beautifully. I have visited the Fride family every day; they are exceptionally nice people. On the third day there was a big gala evening with Grossmann [2] in my honour. The Polish countess was charming and graceful to me. Generally I've been strongly fêted. Only Gurko[3] paid me not the slightest attention. Fanya [4] appeared yesterday. On the whole I'm extremely satisfied, but all the same I'm homesick, yearning and dreaming about returning home. In three hours I leave for Hamburg. I'm having to conduct Onegin myself, as Pollini has very much landed me with it [5]. Tender kisses and hugs to you all.

P. Tchaikovsky

I come to the theatre here every day. I have seen Cavalleria Rusticana twice. It produces a strong impression. I went to the drama theatre. The players were good.

Notes and References

  1. On 2/14 January 1892 Tchaikovsky conducted a concert of his own works in Warsaw, including the Suite No. 3, the Elegie and Valse from the Serenade for String Orchestra, the Violin Concerto and Sérénade mélancolique (soloist Stanisław Barcewicz), Joan's Aria from the opera The Maid of Orleans, and various romances (soloist Nina Fride.
  2. Louis Grossmann (1835-1915), Polish composer and conductor.
  3. Count Iosif Vladimirovich Romeyko-Gurko (1828-1901), Russian governor-general in Warsaw.
  4. The composer's cousin, Mitrofan Petrovich Tchaikovsky (1840-1903).
  5. |Tchaikovsky managed to escape this commitment, and was present in the audience when Gustav Mahler conducted the first Hamburg performance of Yevgeny Onegin at the Hamburg Opera Theatre on 7/19 January 1892.