Letter 113

Tchaikovsky Research
Revision as of 12:46, 2 February 2024 by Tony (talk | contribs) (Changed word order to avoid "here there")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Date between 12/24 and 17/29 February 1868
Addressed to Anatoly Tchaikovsky
Where written Moscow
Language Russian
Autograph Location unknown
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным (1940), p. 105 ("early February")
П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 39 ("early February")
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том V (1959), p. 133
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 37–38 ("early February") (English translation)
Notes Manuscript copy in Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve

Text and Translation

Based on a handwritten copy in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
Милый Толя!

Извини, что не отвечал сейчас же. Отвечаю на твои вопросы:

1) Симфонию мою играть больше не будут. Две серии концертов существовали в начале сезона потому, что зала не была готова и нельзя было поместить 1 500 членов в Малой зале.

2) Впрочем, ты, кажется, ни о чем более меня не спрашивал.

Симфония моя имела большой успех, особенно Andante e и Scherzo.

Масленицу провёл довольно скучно, не так, как в прошлом году. Все вертелся на блинах всевозможного свойства: аристократических, купеческих, артистических и т. д. Ты знаешь, вероятно, что здесь уже месяца два живёт Клименко, который [приехал] на одну неделю, но так прельстился Москвой, что не может никак уехать и, вероятно, в скором времени окончательно переселится в Москву. Вот-то славный человек. Скажу, как Модя: он так меня полюбил, что я не знаю, как и благодарить его. На днях он едет ненадолго в Петербург, и я его просил быть у Вас и в Училище и дома.

В понедельник здесь в Большом театре даётся большой концерт в пользу голодающих, на котором я сам буду дирижировать «Танцами». Должно быть, будет скверно, потому что я все более и более убеждаюсь в совершенной неспособности управлять оркестром. Но от просьбы нельзя было отделаться. Притом вещью продирижировать нетрудно. Начиная с сегодняшнего дня, принимаюсь за оркестровку третьего действия. Вообще хочу покончить оперу к лету. У меня уже имеется в виду другое либретто.

Писать некогда, поэтому целую тебя и остаюсь

[П. Чайковский]

Скажи Модесту, чтоб писал мне.

Dear Tolya

I'm sorry not to have answered right away [1]. In answer to your questions:

1) My symphony won't be played any more. The two concerts at the start of the season were repeated because the hall wasn't ready and it was impossible to put 1,500 members in the smaller hall.

2) However, it seems you no longer require any more from me.

My symphony had great success, especially the Andante and Scherzo [2].

Shrovetide passed quite tediously, unlike last year. Everyone was throwing pancakes around: aristocrats, merchants, artists, etc. You probably know that for two months I've been living here with Klimenko, who came for one week, but was so enticed by Moscow that he couldn't leave, and will probably move to Moscow permanently very soon. He's a fine fellow. As Modest says: he's so lovely to me that I don't know how to thank him. One day he will be in Petersburg for a short while, and I've asked him to call on you in school and at home.

On Monday there will be a big concert here at the Bolshoi Theatre for the starving, at which I'll be conducting my "Dances" [3]. It's bound to be terrible, because I'm increasingly convinced of my utter inability to control an orchestra. But I couldn't wriggle out of the invitation. Besides, it's not a difficult thing to conduct. Over the last few days I have made a start on orchestrating the third act. I really want to finish the opera by the summer. I already have another libretto in mind [4].

I can write no longer, so I hereby kiss you and remain.

[P. Tchaikovsky]

Tell Modest to write to me.

Notes and References

  1. Tchaikovsky was replying to Anatoly Tchaikovsky's letter of 6/18 February 1868.
  2. In the manuscript copy of this letter Modest Tchaikovsky wrote "Andante and Scherzo" in pencil, but later struck out these three words and wrote just "Adagio"; the tempo marking of the second movement of the Symphony No. 1 is "Adagio cantabile, ma non tanto".
  3. The composer conducted a concert performance of the Entr'acte & Dances of the Chambermaids (Act II, No. 4) from his unfinished The Voyevoda at a Red Cross charity concert in aid of famine relief in Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre on 19 February/2 March 1868. His fears about his ability as a conductor were not without foundation, and he did not attempt to direct an orchestra again until 1877.
  4. The subject of this libretto is uncertain, but it could have been his next opera Undina, or an unrealized subject The Palm.