Letter 4198 - Revision history

Brett at 15:30, 26 August 2024

2024-08-26T15:30:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:30, 26 August 2024
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	\|Translated text={{right\|18 August 1890<br/>[[Kamenka]]}}		\|Translated text={{right\|18 August 1890<br/>[[Kamenka]]}}
	{{centre\|Dear and most respected [[Ivan Aleksandrovich]]!}}		{{centre\|Dear and most respected [[Ivan Aleksandrovich]]!}}
	I have just arrived in [[Kamenka]], where on receiving your kind letter of 5 August, I am hastening to answer you on the question of ''Antonovsky''. This singer, in my opinion, is one of the best bass singing voices we have ever had. I last heard him almost a year ago, when his beautiful sound was richly and fully developed. I am utterly incapable of understanding how in the space of a few months this strong and youthful voice could have deteriorated to such an extent that it was necessary to dispense with him. Being very little versed in the small miseries of life and in the mutual relationships between Merson's artists, I cannot speculate why Mr Antonovsky deserved his removal. But I strongly disapprove of this measure with a deep and unshakeable belief. As for ''[[Altani]]'', I consider him to be very weak and easily led; if he came down firmly against ''Antonovsky'', it is because he will have been induced to do so by the influence and pressure of someone stronger and more energetic.		I have just arrived in [[Kamenka]], where on receiving your kind letter of 5 August, I am hastening to answer you on the question of ''Antonovsky''. This singer, in my opinion, is one of the best bass singing voices we have ever had. I last heard him almost a year ago, when his beautiful sound was richly and fully developed. I am utterly incapable of understanding how in the space of a few months this strong and youthful voice could have deteriorated to such an extent that it was necessary to dispense with him. Being very little versed in the small miseries of life and in the mutual relationships between Merson's artists, I cannot speculate why Mr Antonovsky deserved his removal. But I strongly disapprove of this measure with a deep and unshakeable belief. As for ''[[Altani]]'', I consider him to be very weak and easily led; if he came down firmly against ''Antonovsky'', it is because he will have been induced to do so by the influence and pressure of someone stronger and more energetic. As a person, ''[[Altani]]'' is fairly dull, but he is an honest man and I will never believe the rumours that have been circulating about him for some time. As a conductor, I strongly appreciate his great experience and skill. I think that [[Altani]] has enemies who seek to lower your opinion of him. It is a pity because a good conductor is not easy to find, and so he should be more appreciated. But I have every confidence in you and I am sure that you will protect him against his enemies. Besides, ''[[Pavel Pchelnikov\|P. M. Pchelnikov]]'' is, I believe, of the same opinion as me about [[Altani]].

	As a person, ''[[Altani]]'' is fairly dull, but he is an honest man and I will never believe the rumours that have been circulating about him for some time. As a conductor, I strongly appreciate his great experience and skill. I think that [[Altani]] has enemies who seek to lower your opinion of him. It is a pity because a good conductor is not easy to find, and so he should be more appreciated. But I have every confidence in you and I am sure that you will protect him against his enemies. Besides, ''[[Pavel Pchelnikov\|P. M. Pchelnikov]]'' is, I believe, of the same opinion as me about [[Altani]].

	I think, my dear [[Ivan Aleksandrovich]], that ''~~Antonowsky~~'' would be a good acquisition for [[Petersburg]].		I think, my dear [[Ivan Aleksandrovich]], that ''Antonovsky'' would be a good acquisition for [[Petersburg]].

	Whereupon, permit me to wish you every kind of prosperity, and I say:		Whereupon, permit me to wish you every kind of prosperity, and I say:
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	Your most devoted,		Your most devoted,
	{{right\|P. Tchaikovsky}}		{{right\|P. Tchaikovsky}}

	}}		}}

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Brett at 19:13, 29 August 2020

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{{letterhead
|Date=18/30 August 1890
|To=[[Ivan Vsevolozhsky]]
|Place=[[Kamenka]]
|Language=French
|Autograph=[[Saint Petersburg]] (Russia): {{RUS-SPia}} (ф. 652, No. 18, л. 46-47)
|Publication={{bib|1977/40|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том XV-Б}} (1977), p. 242–243 (Russian translation only)<br/>{{bibx|1999/103|Петербургский музыкальный архив. Сборник статей и материалов, вып. 3}} (1999), p. 188<br/>{{bibx|2013/44|Чайковский. Новые материалы к творческой биографии}} (2013), p. 65
}}
==Text and Translation==
{{Lettertext
|Language=French
|Translator=Cristina Niculescu
|Original text={{right|18 Août 1890<br/>Kamenka}}
{{centre|Cher et très respecté Иван Александрович!}}
A peine arrivé à ''Kamenka'' où je viens de recevoir Votre bonne lettre du 5 Août, je m'empresse de Vous répondre sur la question ''Antonowsky''. Ce chanteur, selon moi, est une des meilleures ''basse-tailles'' que nous ayons jamais possédé. Je l'ai entendu pour la dernière fois il y aura bientôt un an et son bel organe était dans toute la plénitude de son riche développement. Je suis parfaitement incapable de comprendre comment dans l'espace de quelques mois cette forte et jeune voix ait pu s'abîmer au point qu'on ait cru devoir s'en défaire. Étant très peu versé dans les petites misères de la vie et des relations réciproques des artistes de la troupe de Мерсон, je ne devine pas d'où vient que M[onsieu]r Antonowsky ait mérité son éloignement. Mais je désapprouve cette mesure de toute la force d'une conviction profonde et inébranlable. Quant à ''Altani'', je le crois très faible et facile à mener; s'il s'est prononcé décidément contre ''Antonowsky'', c'est qu'il y aura été amené par l'influence et la pression de quelqu'un plus fort et plus énergique que lui. Comme personnalité, ''Altani'' est assez nul, mais c'est un honnête garçon et jamais je ne croirai aux bruits que depuis quelque temps on fait courir sur lui. Comme chef d'orchestre, j'apprécie fort sa grande expérience et son savoir-faire. Je crois qu'Altani a des ennemis et qu'on {{sic|s'efface|s'efforce}} de la perdre dans Votre opinion. C'est bien dommage car un bon chef d'orchestre est bien difficile à trouver et on {{sic|devroit|devrait}} l'apprécier davantage. Mais j'ai pleine confiance en Vous et suis sûr que Vous le protégerez contre ses ennemis. D'ailleurs, ''П. М. Пчельников'' est, je crois, de la même opinion que moi sur Altani.

Je crois, cher Иван Александрович, qu{{'}}''Antonowsky'' serait une bonne acquisition pour Pétersbourg.

Sur ce, permettez-moi de Vous souhaiter toute espèce de prospérités et me dire:

Votre bien dévoué
{{right|P. Tschaïkovsky}}

|Translated text={{right|18 August 1890<br/>[[Kamenka]]}}
{{centre|Dear and most respected [[Ivan Aleksandrovich]]!}}
I have just arrived in [[Kamenka]], where on receiving your kind letter of 5 August, I am hastening to answer you on the question of ''Antonovsky''. This singer, in my opinion, is one of the best bass singing voices we have ever had. I last heard him almost a year ago, when his beautiful sound was richly and fully developed. I am utterly incapable of understanding how in the space of a few months this strong and youthful voice could have deteriorated to such an extent that it was necessary to dispense with him. Being very little versed in the small miseries of life and in the mutual relationships between Merson's artists, I cannot speculate why Mr Antonovsky deserved his removal. But I strongly disapprove of this measure with a deep and unshakeable belief. As for ''[[Altani]]'', I consider him to be very weak and easily led; if he came down firmly against ''Antonovsky'', it is because he will have been induced to do so by the influence and pressure of someone stronger and more energetic.

As a person, ''[[Altani]]'' is fairly dull, but he is an honest man and I will never believe the rumours that have been circulating about him for some time. As a conductor, I strongly appreciate his great experience and skill. I think that [[Altani]] has enemies who seek to lower your opinion of him. It is a pity because a good conductor is not easy to find, and so he should be more appreciated. But I have every confidence in you and I am sure that you will protect him against his enemies. Besides, ''[[Pavel Pchelnikov|P. M. Pchelnikov]]'' is, I believe, of the same opinion as me about [[Altani]].

I think, my dear [[Ivan Aleksandrovich]], that ''Antonowsky'' would be a good acquisition for [[Petersburg]].

Whereupon, permit me to wish you every kind of prosperity, and I say:

Your most devoted,
{{right|P. Tchaikovsky}}

}}