Letter 4613
| Date | 3/15 February 1892 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Ivan Vsevolozhsky |
| Where written | Maydanovo |
| Language | Russian |
| Autograph Location | Saint Petersburg (Russia): Russian State Historical Archive (ф. 652, оп. 1, д. 608, л. 48) |
| Publication | П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVI-Б (1979), p. 34–35 |
Text and Translation
Based on a typed copy, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
| Russian text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
3 февраля 1892 г[ода] г[ород] Клин, Моск[овской) губ[ернии] Многоуважаемый, дорогой Иван Александрович!
Дочь арфиста Цабеля (фамилию её по мужу я позабыл) явится к Вам с просьбой принять её на императорскую сцену и просит предварительно замолвить о ней словечко. Я слышал её пение зимой в частной опере, в Москве, в роли королевы в «Гугенотах». Она обладает хорошей колоратурой, при весьма небольшом голосе и наружности..., но Вы её увидите. Вот и всё, что могу сказать. Простите, что беспокою, — но должен исполнить просьбу дочери артиста, которого высоко уважаю. Усердно работаю над инструментовкой балета, отрывки коего Вы услышите в концерте, ....... если полюбопытствуете. Страшно буду рад, если Вам понравится. До свиданья, будьте здоровы! Преданный и глубоко уважающий Вас, П. Чайковский |
Most respected, dear Ivan Aleksandrovich!
A daughter of the harpist Zabel (I forget her married surname) will be appearing before you with a request to take her onto the Imperial stage, and has asked me to put in a good word for her beforehand. I heard her singing in the winter in a private opera in Moscow, in the role of the queen in "Les Hugenots". She has good coloratura, with a very small voice and appearance... [1], but you will see. That is all I can say. I am sorry to bother you, but I had to comply with the request from the daughter of an artist who is so highly respected [2]. I am working diligently on the instrumentation of the ballet, extracts from which you will hear in the concert, ....... [3] if you have the opportunity to enjoy it. Until we meet, keep well! Your devoted and deeply respectful, P. Tchaikovsky |
Notes and References
- ↑ The ellipses are reproduced as given in the typed copy of this letter.
- ↑ Albert Zabel (1834-1910), a German-born harpist, composer and music professor, who was a soloist in the Maryinsky Theatre orchestra; On 29 October/10 November 1891 Tchaikovsky heard a certain "E. A. Zabel-Rashat" perform the role of the queen in a Moscow production of Meyerbeer's opera Les Hugenots, given by Mikhail Lentovsky's opera company.
- ↑ The ellipses are reproduced as given in the typed copy of this letter. Tchaikovsky was orchestrating eight numbers to create a Suite from the ballet The Nutcracker, which he was to conduct at the ninth symphony concert of the Saint Petersburg branch of the Russian Musical Society on 7/19 March 1892.
