Letter 4401

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 11/23 June 1891
Addressed to Anna Merkling
Where written Maydanovo
Language Russian
Autograph Location unknown
Publication П. И. Чайковский. С. И. Танеев. Письма (1951), p. 245–246
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVI-А (1976), p. 136–137
Notes Manuscript copy in Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (signature omitted)

Text and Translation

Based on a handwritten copy in the Klin House-Museum Archive, omitting the signature, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
11 июня 1891 г[ода]

Голубушка Аня! Я только что вернулся из Москвы, где застрял на целую неделю. Этим объясняется, что на письмо твоё, ожидавшее меня здесь, так долго не было ответу. Насчёт Штрандмана я решил, что решение этого вопроса нужно отложить до осени. Торопиться нечего. До тех пор можно кое-что и другое, быть может, лучшее найти. Пишу тебе так мало, ибо не знаю, застанет ли тебя эта записочка. Аня, моск[овская] Франц[узская] выставка прелесть, и ты непременно должна её видеть. Я имел против неё предубеждение и теперь мечтаю опять съездить в Москву и побывать на неё.

Целую твой ручки, голубушка! Спасибо за хлопоты.

Твой,

11 June 1891

Golubushka Anya! I've only just returned from Moscow, where I was stuck for a whole week. This explains why I have taken so long to reply to your letter, which was waiting for me here [1]. Regarding Strandmann, I decided that this question must be deferred until the autumn [2].. There's no hurry. In the meantime something better might turn up. I'm only writing a little because I don't know whether this note will reach you. Anya, the Moscow French exhibition is delightful, and you certainly ought to see it. I had been set against it, and now I'm dreaming about going back to Moscow and seeing it again [3]..

I kiss your hands, golubushka! Thank you for your troubles.

Yours,

Notes and References

  1. This letter from Anna Merkling has not survived.
  2. When Tchaikovsky returned from his tour of America, he moved to a rented house at Maydanovo (near Klin), where he had previously resided between February 1885 and April 1888. Believing this to be unavailable or unsuitable during the winter months, the composer had sought alternative accommodation, and had expressed interest in a nearby dacha owned by a certain "Strandmann".
  3. The Exposition française was held in Moscow between 1/15 May and 15/27 October 1891.