Letter 1909 - Revision history

Tony: Added commas for ease of reading

2024-12-04T14:01:54Z

Added commas for ease of reading

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:01, 4 December 2024
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	I learned yesterday from a private letter from [[Petersburg]] that you have left your conducting position with the Russian Musical Society. Since I am aware that you're continuing your operatic activities, then it follows that this was not because of your health, but rather that some other reasons have compelled you to leave the place you have been adorning for so many years.		I learned yesterday from a private letter from [[Petersburg]] that you have left your conducting position with the Russian Musical Society. Since I am aware that you're continuing your operatic activities, then it follows that this was not because of your health, but rather that some other reasons have compelled you to leave the place you have been adorning for so many years.

	It's hard for me to imagine that you would resign due to ill-feeling of some sort. I'm annoyed and upset that such an excellent figure, such a highly gifted and impeccably honest person as you is unappreciated by those who ought to know you more than anyone else. I'm extremely distressed by this news, which for me is a great loss. Being completely devoid of any conducting talent, I do not have the opportunity to personally commend my works to the public, and it's clear to me, more than anyone, that the Musical Society orchestra needs someone unquestionably reliable at its head. I can openly state that, with the exception of the late [[Nikolay Rubinstein\|N. G. Rubinstein]] and you, I have never met a single conductor whose artistry and friendliness I could wholly rely on. I'm not saying all this in order to ''console'' you; it seems to me that it's not you who needs comfort and consolation, but the institution which has lost you. For you personally I would sooner have reason to rejoice over this turn of events. With your frail health I think it better if you are less tired from relentless work.		It's hard for me to imagine that you would resign due to ill-feeling of some sort. I'm annoyed and upset that such an excellent figure, such a highly gifted and impeccably honest person as you is unappreciated by those who ought to know you more than anyone else. I'm extremely distressed by this news, which for me is a great loss. Being completely devoid of any conducting talent, I do not have the opportunity to personally commend my works to the public, and it's clear to me, more than anyone, that the Musical Society orchestra needs someone unquestionably reliable at its head. I can openly state that, with the exception of the late [[Nikolay Rubinstein\|N. G. Rubinstein]] and you, I have never met a single conductor whose artistry and friendliness I could wholly rely on. I'm not saying all this in order to ''console'' you; it seems to me that it's not you who needs comfort and consolation, but the institution which has lost you. For you personally, I would sooner have reason to rejoice over this turn of events. With your frail health, I think it better if you are less tired from relentless work.

	I don't want to go on about myself in detail. I am very happy to have found a wonderful climate here, far away from any of the sorts of anxieties and strife that I experience in the fatherland. But my state of mind is still not entirely normal, and the main thing upsetting me is what I myself recognise as an unequivocal decline in my powers. You consoled me, my friend, in the summer, that this transitional state will soon end and the willingness to write will return again. Alas! Although I'm writing a little now, it's with some sort of disappointment, lacking my previous enthusiasm. However, I haven't lost hope; perhaps you are right all the same, and God willing that this is so.		I don't want to go on about myself in detail. I am very happy to have found a wonderful climate here, far away from any of the sorts of anxieties and strife that I experience in the fatherland. But my state of mind is still not entirely normal, and the main thing upsetting me is what I myself recognise as an unequivocal decline in my powers. You consoled me, my friend, in the summer, that this transitional state will soon end and the willingness to write will return again. Alas! Although I'm writing a little now, it's with some sort of disappointment, lacking my previous enthusiasm. However, I haven't lost hope; perhaps you are right all the same, and God willing that this is so.

Brett: Text replacement - "in the Klin House-Museum Archive" to "in the {{RUS-KLč}} at Klin"

2023-09-23T15:30:17Z

Text replacement - "in the Klin House-Museum Archive" to "in the {{RUS-KLč}} at Klin"

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 23 September 2023
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	==Text and Translation==		==Text and Translation==
	Based on a typed copy in the [[Klin]] ~~House-Museum Archive~~, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.		Based on a typed copy in the {{RUS-KLč}} at [[Klin]], which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
	{{Lettertext		{{Lettertext
	\|Language=Russian		\|Language=Russian

Brett: 1 revision imported

2022-07-14T20:31:07Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:31, 14 July 2022
(No difference)

Brett: Text replacement - "все-таки" to "всё-таки"

2020-04-23T12:55:11Z

Text replacement - "все-таки" to "всё-таки"

New page

{{letterhead
|Date=7/19 December 1881
|To=[[Eduard Nápravník]]
|Place=[[Rome]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph={{locunknown}}
|Publication={{bib|1959/20|Е. Ф. Направник. Автобиографические, творческие материалы, документы, письма}} (1959), p. 116–117 {{bib|1966/44|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том X}} (1966), p. 287–288
|Notes=Typed copy in [[Klin]] (Russia): {{RUS-KLč}}
}}
==Text and Translation==
Based on a typed copy in the [[Klin]] House-Museum Archive, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Brett Langston
|Original text={{right|''Рим'' 7/19 дек[абря] 1881 г[ода]}}
{{right|''Hôtel Costanzi''}}
{{centre|Дорогой друг мой Эдуард Францович!}}
Вчера из одного частного петербургского письма я узнал, что Вы оставили свой дирижёрский пост при Р[усском] М[узыкальном] О[бществе]. Так как мне известно, что Вы продолжаете свою деятельность в опере, то, следовательно, не здоровье, а какие-нибудь другие причины заставили Вас расстаться с местом, которое столько лет Вы украшали.

Мне тяжело думать, что чьё-нибудь недоброжелательство было поводом к Вашей отставке. Мне досадно и обидно, что такой превосходный деятель, такой высоко даровитый и безупречно честный человек, как Вы, не оценён по достоинству теми, которые более, чем кто-либо, должны были знать Вас. Я чрезвычайно огорчён этим известием; для меня это большая потеря. Будучи совершенно лишён капельмейстерского дарования, не имея возможности лично рекомендовать свой сочинения публике, понятно, что мне, более чем кому-либо, нужно, чтобы во главе оркестра М[узыкального] о[бщества] стоял человек, которому безусловно доверяешься. Я могу во всеуслышание сказать, что, за исключением покойного Н. Г. Руб[ннштейна] и Вас, я не встречал ни одного дирижёра, на искусство и дружелюбие которого я мог бы вполне положиться. Говорю все это вовсе не для того, чтобы ''утешить'' Вас; мне кажется, что в сожалении и утешении нуждаетесь не Вы, а то учреждение, которое Вас лишилось. За Вас лично я скорее имею основанием радоваться по поводу совершившегося. При Вашем некрепком здоровье, думаю, что хорошо, если Вы будете менее утомлять себя неустанной работой.

Про себя подробно распространяться не хочется. Я очень счастлив, что нахожусь здесь, в чудном климате, вдали от всякого рода тревог и огорчений, испытанных в отечестве. Но состояние духа моего все ещё не нормальное, а главное, что меня огорчает, — это что я сознаю в себе положительный упадок авторских сил. Вы меня утешали, друг мой, летом, что это переходное состояние скоро кончится и что снова вернётся охота писать. Увы! хотя я и пишу теперь понемножку, но с каким-то разочарованием в себе, без прежнего увлечения. Не теряю, однако же, надежды; быть может, Вы всё-таки правы, и дай Бог, чтобы так было.

Жму крепко Вашу руку, дорогой Эдуард Францович.

Совестно просить Вас написать мне, но если найдётся свободная минуточка, очень рад буду получить весточку.
{{right|П. Чайковский}}

|Translated text={{right|''[[Rome]]'' 7/19 December 1881}}
{{right|''Hôtel Costanzi''}}
{{centre|My dear friend [[Eduard Frantsovich]]!}}
I learned yesterday from a private letter from [[Petersburg]] that you have left your conducting position with the Russian Musical Society. Since I am aware that you're continuing your operatic activities, then it follows that this was not because of your health, but rather that some other reasons have compelled you to leave the place you have been adorning for so many years.

It's hard for me to imagine that you would resign due to ill-feeling of some sort. I'm annoyed and upset that such an excellent figure, such a highly gifted and impeccably honest person as you is unappreciated by those who ought to know you more than anyone else. I'm extremely distressed by this news, which for me is a great loss. Being completely devoid of any conducting talent, I do not have the opportunity to personally commend my works to the public, and it's clear to me, more than anyone, that the Musical Society orchestra needs someone unquestionably reliable at its head. I can openly state that, with the exception of the late [[Nikolay Rubinstein|N. G. Rubinstein]] and you, I have never met a single conductor whose artistry and friendliness I could wholly rely on. I'm not saying all this in order to ''console'' you; it seems to me that it's not you who needs comfort and consolation, but the institution which has lost you. For you personally I would sooner have reason to rejoice over this turn of events. With your frail health I think it better if you are less tired from relentless work.

I don't want to go on about myself in detail. I am very happy to have found a wonderful climate here, far away from any of the sorts of anxieties and strife that I experience in the fatherland. But my state of mind is still not entirely normal, and the main thing upsetting me is what I myself recognise as an unequivocal decline in my powers. You consoled me, my friend, in the summer, that this transitional state will soon end and the willingness to write will return again. Alas! Although I'm writing a little now, it's with some sort of disappointment, lacking my previous enthusiasm. However, I haven't lost hope; perhaps you are right all the same, and God willing that this is so.

I shake your hand warmly, dear [[Eduard Frantsovich]].

I'm ashamed to ask you to write to me, but if you find a free moment I'll be very glad to receive a little news.
{{right|P. Tchaikovsky}}
}}