Letter 2424

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 4/16 February 1884
Addressed to Emiliya Pavlovskaya
Where written Moscow
Language Russian
Autograph Location Moscow (Russia): Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum (Pavlovskaya collection)
Publication Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 2 (1901), p. 621 (abridged)
Советская музыка (1934), No. 8, p. 64
Чайковский на Московской сцене (1940), p. 316
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XII (1970), p. 308.

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Luis Sundkvist
4 февр[аля] 1884

Дорогая, чудная Эмилия Карловна!

Я доведён испытанными волнениями до такого состояния, что решился сегодня же уехать за границу и искать отдыха в дальнем путешествии. Спасибо Вам, несравненная Мария, за неописанное-чудное исполнение роли. Дай Бог Вам всякого счастья и успеха! Никогда не забуду глубоких впечатлений, доставленных Вашим дивным талантом. Целую Ваши ручки.

Ваш до гроба,

П. Чайковский

4 February 1884

Dear, wonderful Emiliya Karlovna!

All the anxiety I have experienced has driven me to a point where, today, I have taken the decision of going abroad and seeking rest in a long journey [1]. Thank you, you incomparable Mariya, for your indescribably wonderful performance of the role. May God give you every possible happiness and success! I shall never forget the profound impressions which your marvellous talent has afforded me. I kiss your hands.

Yours unto the grave,

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Tchaikovsky had been very nervous during the premiere of Mazepa at the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre the previous evening, on 3/15 February 1884. Making his way abroad via Saint Petersburg, Tchaikovsky was in Berlin by 7/19 February and a few days later arrived in Paris, where he would stay for just over a fortnight before returning to Russia.