Natalya Plesskaya

Tchaikovsky Research
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Natalya Plesskaya (b. 1837)

Cousin to the composer's brother-in-law Lev Davydov (b. 1837), born Natalya Andreyevna Plesskaya (Наталия Андреевна Плесская), sometimes also spelled Pleskaya (Плеская).

Natalya was a close friend of the composer's sister Aleksandra, and a cousin to his brother-in-law Lev Davydov (1837–1896). Tchaikovsky was very fond of Natalya Plesskaya, and admired her sunny disposition and ready wit.

Dedications

In 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote a Nathalie-Valse for Natalya Plesskaya. He retained the dedication of this piano piece ("à Mademoiselle Natha Plessky") when it was reworked as Natha-Valse, No. 4 of the Six Pieces, Op. 51 (1881).

Correspondence with Tchaikovsky

16 letters from Tchaikovsky to Natalya Plesskaya have survived, dating from 1879 to 1893. Those highlighted in bold have been translated into English on this website:

250 letters from Natalya Plesskaya to the composer, dating from 1878 to 1893, are preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, Nos. 3363–3612) [1]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Including one letter dating from 5/17-10/22 January 1891, written jointly by Plesskaya and the composer's sister Aleksandra (a4, No. 3582).