Letter 455

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 18/30 March 1876
Addressed to Edward Dannreuther
Where written Moscow
Language French
Autograph Location unknown [1]
Publication Musical Times, vol. 48 (1 November 1907), p. 717
Русская музыкальная газета (1907), No. 45, p. 1034 (Russian translation)
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том VI (1961), p. 32

Text and Translation

Reproduced from the original article in the Musical Times (1907), which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.

French text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
Moscou
18/30 mars 1876

Monsieur,

J'ai recu vôtre bonne lettre, ainsi que le programme du concert ou vous avez bien voulu honorer de vôtre magnifique éxécution mon oeuvre difficile et fatiguante. Vous ne sauriez croire, monsieur, combien de joie et de plaisir m'a causé le succès de cette pièce, et vraimant je ne trouve pas les éxpréssions nécéssaires pour vous signifier ma vive reconnaissance. Je vous remercie aussi pour les coneseils très sages et très pratiques que vous me donnez, et soyez sûr que je les suivrai dès qu'il sera question d'une deuxième édition de mon concerto.

Je vous serre cordialement la main et me dis votre dévoué et reconnaissant,

P. Tchaikowsky

Moscow
18/30 March 1876

Sir,

I have received your kind letter, together with the programme for the concert where you gave me the honour of your magnificent execution of my difficult and tiring work. You would not believe, sir, how much happiness and joy the success of this piece causes me, and how I truly cannot find the expressions required to convey my gratitude. I also thank you for the very wise and practical advice you have given me, and be sure that I will follow it whenever the question of a second edition of my concerto arises [2].

I shake your hand warmly, and say that I am your devoted and grateful,

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Autograph auctioned on 3 December 2008 by Sotheby's, London.
  2. Edward Dannreuther performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 on 28 February/11 March 1876 in a concert at the Crystal Palace in London. His letter to Tchaikovsky containing suggestions for improvements to the concerto has not survived.