Letter 3433a
Date | 11/23 December 1887 |
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Addressed to | Jean-Théodore Radoux |
Where written | Saint Petersburg |
Language | French |
Autograph Location | Paris (France): Médiathèque Musicale Mahler (Fonds Sylvain Dupuis, Album 7, p. 84) |
Publication | Tchaikovsky Research Bulletin No. 1 (February 2011), p. 22 (incomplete; with English translation) Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen, Heft 19 (2012), p. 126 (with German translation, p. 126–127) Чайковский. Новые материалы к творческой биографии (2013), p. 288 (with Russian translation, p. 288-289) |
Text and Translation
French text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
S[ain]t Petersbourg 11/23 Décembre 1887 Cher et trés respecté Monsieur!
Bien qu'un peu étonné de ce que ma premiere simphonie possédât le don de Vous plaire plutôt que mes œuvres postérieures, je Vous remercie infiniment pour le désir que Vous manifestez de faire connaitre aux Liégois, dont le suffrage me flatte grandement, une simphonie, quoique faible sous tous les rapports, mais peut-être ayant le mérite de bien recommander la chaleur du sentiment sincère que me l'inspirât. Je suis desolé de ce que la partition gravée, que Vous possedez fourmille de fautes d'impression. Mon éditeur P. I. Jurgenson a l'intention de publier une nouvelle édition. En attendant je ne puis remédier à la chose qu'en V[ou]s expédiant les parties d'orchestre que, je croix, sont corrigées. Dumoins M[onsieu]r P. Jurgenson vient de me faire savoir par télégraphe qu'il a pour Vous se[...] [3] des parties qui deja ont servi à une exécution de cette simphonie à Moscou. Voila, trés respecté Monsieur, ce que j'ai pu faire pour Vous prouver que je suis bien touché de l'attention trés flatteuse que V[ou]s voulez bien me témoigner. Je suis, Monsieur, Votre trés devoué serviteur, P. Tschaïkowsky De grâce, ne m'en voulez pas de toutes les peines que V[ou]s aurez à faire jouer une œuvre difficile et dont la partition est mal gravée. |
Saint Petersburg 11/23 December 1887 Dear and most respected Monsieur!
Although I am a little surprised that my first symphony is possessed of such qualities as to please you more than my subsequent works, I thank you infinitely for your desire to make it known in Liége, where I am greatly flattered by the approbation for a symphony, which although weak in many respects, still perhaps has merit as a testament to the warmth of the sincere feelings that inspired me. I apologise that the engraved score which you possess is riddled with typographical errors [1]. My publisher P. I. Jurgenson is intending to publish a new edition. Until then I can only remedy this by sending you the orchestral parts which, I understand, have been corrected. At least, Monsieur Jurgenson has just informed me by telegraph that he can make available to you parts which have been used in a performance of this symphony in Moscow [2]. This, most respected Monsieur, I have been able to do in order to demonstrate how very touched I am by the flattering attention which you have shown to me. I am, Monsieur, your most devoted servant, P. Tchaikovsky I beg you not to be angry with me for all the pains you will have to endure in order to play a difficult work, the score of which has been badly engraved. |
Notes and References
- ↑ The first edition of the symphony's full score was published in 1875, and to Tchaikovsky's annoyance was full of mistakes. See, for example, his Letter 2368 to Karl Albrecht, 17/29 October 1883.
- ↑ See Letter 3432 and Letter 3433 to Pyotr Jurgenson, dated 10/22 and 11/23 December 1887.
- ↑ The next word is indecipherable.