Letter 3988

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 21 December 1889/2 January 1890
Addressed to Pavel Pchelnikov
Where written Saint Petersburg
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 313)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XV-А (1976), p. 222

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
21 дек[абря] [18]89 г[ода].

Дорогой Павел Михайлович!

Податель сей записочки г. Арс имеет до Вас дело. Потрудитесь принять и выслушать его. Он написал пиэсу-феерию, по-моему, очень сценичную и интересную, и желал бы поставить её на императорской сцене. Если возможно, окажите ему Вашу протекцию.

Искренно уважающий Вас,

П. Чайковский

21 December 1889

The bearer of this note, Mr Ars, has some business with you. Kindly receive him and listen to him. He has written a fairy tale, which in my opinion is very special and interesting, and should like it to be put on by the Imperial Theatres [1]. If possible, kindly offer him your guidance.

With sincere respect for you,

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. The composer and director Nikolay Andreyevich Ars (1858-1902) had written a play which included some of Tchaikovsky's early compositions. Despite the objections of Pyotr Jurgenson, Tchaikovsky was enthusiastic about the project, and recommended it to the Imperial Theatres. However, nothing came of this idea and it seems that the unnamed play was never performed or published anywhere.