Letter 4857

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 5/17 February 1893
Addressed to Ilya Slatin
Where written Klin
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 360)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVII (1981), p. 34

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
5 февр[аля] [18]93

Представьте, дорогой Илья Ильич, что я никогда так не негодовал на русские железнодорожные нравы и порядки, как в это моё путешествие. Едва тронулся поезд, как обер-кондуктор необыкновенно грубо выгнал меня из моего отделения, говоря, что это отделение для дам, что одна дама хочет сидеть в этом отделении и что распоряжения начальника станции до него не касаются. Дама (кажется, узнавшая меня) оказалась очень милой и потребовала, чтобы меня оставили в покое. Я возвратился в отделение и лёг спать, но в Курске меня разбудили и бесцеремонно выгнали в общее отделение. Боже мой, как я был зол!!!

Но плевать на все это безобразие, благо я, в конце, концов, благополучно вернулся восвояси.

По подробном обсуждении всех обстоятельств я прихожу к решению дирижировать у вас в понедельник на шестой неделе.

Итак, до свиданья, милый Илья Ильич. Низкий поклон Серафиме Васильевне и поцелуй философу И. И. и разбойнику В. И. Слатиным.

Ваш П. Чайковский

5 February 1893

Just imagine, dear Ilya Ilyich, that I have never been so outraged by the rules and regulations of Russian railways than on this journey. The train had barely moved off as the chief conductor, with incredible brusqueness, threw me out of my compartment, saying that this compartment was reserved for ladies, and that one lady wished to sit there, and that the instructions of the previous station master were no concern of his. The lady (who I think recognised me) turned out to be very sweet, and requested that I be left in peace. I returned to the compartment and went to bed, but at Kursk I was awoken and unceremoniously driven into a general compartment. My God, I was so angry!!!

But regardless of that outrage, it only matters that ultimately I have returned safely home [1].

After carefully considering all the circumstances, I have concluded that I shall conduct with you on Monday in six weeks [2].

And so, see you soon, dear Ilya Ilyich. I bow low to Serafima Vasilyevna and kiss the philosopher I. I. and the thief V. I. Slatin [3].

Yours P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Tchaikovsky left Kharkov on 2/14 February 1893.
  2. Tchaikovsky returned to Kharkov on 11/23 March to rehearse and conduct a concert of his own works (14/26 March), including The Tempest, the Violin Concerto (soloist Konstantin Gorsky), the Symphony No. 2, and the overture The Year 1812. This was followed by a dinner for the composer, and a special concert was given in his honour the following day by students of the local branch of the Russian Musical Society.
  3. Ilya Ilyich (b. 1888) and Vladimir Ilyich (b. 1889) were the sons of Ilya Slatin and his wife Serafima.