Letter 2932: Difference between revisions

Tchaikovsky Research
No edit summary
 
m (Omitted comma before "that")
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 22: Line 22:
|Translated text={{right|1886, 17th April<br/>[[Tiflis]]}}
|Translated text={{right|1886, 17th April<br/>[[Tiflis]]}}
{{centre|Dear [[Emiliya Karlovna]]!}}
{{centre|Dear [[Emiliya Karlovna]]!}}
Will this letter find you in [[Petersburg]]? You know, I am truly missing you, as for such a long time I haven't had any news about you or seen your distinctive handwriting. Here you have left such lasting memories of yourself, and the occasion to talk about you presents itself so often <ref name="note1"/>, that I am constantly thinking about you. And thus I felt an irresistible urge to write a few words to you and remind you of myself.  
Will this letter find you in [[Petersburg]]? You know, I am truly missing you, as for such a long time I haven't had any news about you or seen your distinctive handwriting. Here you have left such lasting memories of yourself, and the occasion to talk about you presents itself so often <ref name="note1"/> that I am constantly thinking about you. And thus I felt an irresistible urge to write a few words to you and remind you of myself.  


I like [[Tiflis]] very much: it is an original, picturesque, and highly interesting city. I have encountered such sympathy on the part of local society here, and of the musicians in particular, that I cannot but feel greatly touched and grateful. There is only one aspect which is not so good: I am frequenting society a lot and ''carousing'' a great deal, which means that ''[[The Enchantress]]'' is not advancing at all. The opera-house opens its spring season on 20 April with [Ponchielli's] ''La Gioconda''. Here, next week, I shall get to hear ''[[Mazepa]]'', which the [[Tiflis]] public has come to love very much. Of the singers, male and female, whose acquaintance I have made here, the one I find the nicest is ''[[Varvara Zarudnaya|Zarudnaya-Ivanova]]''. I have heard her several times, both at her house and at ours <ref name="note2"/>. Her manner of singing is intelligent, elegant yet unaffected, and shows taste. I haven't seen her on the stage yet, but I don't think she is endowed with a particularly passionate dramatic temperament. ''Lody'' <ref name="note3"/> is causing a sensation here. I have been told that he was astonishingly good in [[Mazepa]]. What a pity that such a wonderful artist couldn't get an engagement in [[Petersburg]]. He would be splendid for the ''prince's son'' in [[The Enchantress]]. My dear ''benefactress'' <ref name="note4"/>! I kiss your hands, send you belatedly my season's greetings [for Easter], and wish you fervently every sort of prosperity. Give my regards to everyone, but in particular to ''Sergey Yevgrafovich'' <ref name="note5"/>, ''[[Eduard Frantsevich]]'', and ''[[Olga Nápravník (mother)|Olga Eduardovna]]''.  
I like [[Tiflis]] very much: it is an original, picturesque, and highly interesting city. I have encountered such sympathy on the part of local society here, and of the musicians in particular, that I cannot but feel greatly touched and grateful. There is only one aspect which is not so good: I am frequenting society a lot and ''carousing'' a great deal, which means that ''[[The Enchantress]]'' is not advancing at all. The opera-house opens its spring season on 20 April with [Ponchielli's] ''La Gioconda''. Here, next week, I shall get to hear ''[[Mazepa]]'', which the [[Tiflis]] public has come to love very much. Of the singers, male and female, whose acquaintance I have made here, the one I find the nicest is ''[[Varvara Zarudnaya|Zarudnaya-Ivanova]]''. I have heard her several times, both at her house and at ours <ref name="note2"/>. Her manner of singing is intelligent, elegant yet unaffected, and shows taste. I haven't seen her on the stage yet, but I don't think she is endowed with a particularly passionate dramatic temperament. ''Lody'' <ref name="note3"/> is causing a sensation here. I have been told that he was astonishingly good in [[Mazepa]]. What a pity that such a wonderful artist couldn't get an engagement in [[Petersburg]]. He would be splendid for the ''prince's son'' in [[The Enchantress]]. My dear ''benefactress'' <ref name="note4"/>! I kiss your hands, send you belatedly my season's greetings [for Easter], and wish you fervently every sort of prosperity. Give my regards to everyone, but in particular to ''Sergey Yevgrafovich'' <ref name="note5"/>, ''[[Eduard Frantsevich]]'', and ''[[Olga Nápravník (mother)|Olga Eduardovna]]''.  
{{right|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}}
{{right|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}}
On the 26th I am leaving to travel, via [[Batum]] and [[Constantinople]], to [[Naples]], [[Rome]], and [[Paris]]. Do write me ''a few words'', addressing your letter to [[Rome]], Poste restante <ref name="note6"/>.
On the 26th I am leaving to travel, via [[Batum]] and [[Constantinople]], to [[Naples]], [[Rome]] and [[Paris]]. Do write me ''a few words'', addressing your letter to [[Rome]], Poste restante <ref name="note6"/>.
}}
}}


==Notes and References==
==Notes and References==
<references>
<references>
<ref name="note1">During the 1880/81 season and the two following seasons [[Emiliya Pavlovskaya]] had sung in the opera-houses of [[Odessa]], [[Kharkov]], and [[Tiflis]] — note based on information provided by Vasily Kiselev in {{bibx|1940/226| Чайковский на московской сцене}} (1940), p. 311.</ref>
<ref name="note1">During the 1880/81 season and the two following seasons, [[Emiliya Pavlovskaya]] had sung in the opera-houses of [[Odessa]], [[Kharkov]] and [[Tiflis]] — note based on information provided by Vasily Kiselev in {{bibx|1940/226| Чайковский на московской сцене}} (1940), p. 311.</ref>
<ref name="note2">In [[Tiflis]] Tchaikovsky was staying at the house of his brother [[Anatoly]].</ref>
<ref name="note2">In [[Tiflis]], Tchaikovsky was staying at the house of his brother [[Anatoly]].</ref>
<ref name="note3">Pyotr Andreyevich Lody (1855 or 1852–1920), Russian tenor and actor.</ref>
<ref name="note3">Pyotr Andreyevich Lody (1855 or 1852–1920), Russian tenor and actor.</ref>
<ref name="note4">From his earliest letters to [[Pavlovskaya]] Tchaikovsky had called her his "benefactress", thereby emphasizing how grateful he was to her for her enthusiastic attitude towards ''[[Mazepa]]'' (in which she created the role of Mariya at the opera's premiere), as well as towards ''[[Yevgeny Onegin]]'', in which she sang Tatyana many times.</ref>
<ref name="note4">From his earliest letters to [[Pavlovskaya]], Tchaikovsky had called her his "benefactress", thereby emphasizing how grateful he was to her for her enthusiastic attitude towards [[Mazepa]] (in which she created the role of Mariya at the opera's premiere), as well as towards [[Yevgeny Onegin]], in which she sang Tatyana many times.</ref>
<ref name="note5">[[Emiliya Pavlovskaya]]'s husband, Sergey Yevgrafovich Pavlovsky (1846–1915), was also a singer (a baritone) and a member of the [[Saint Petersburg]] Mariinsky Theatre's troupe.</ref>
<ref name="note5">[[Emiliya Pavlovskaya]]'s husband, Sergey Yevgrafovich Pavlovsky (1846–1915), was also a singer (a baritone) and a member of the [[Saint Petersburg]] Mariinsky Theatre's troupe.</ref>
<ref name="note6">This note was written on the top of the first page of the letter. Tchaikovsky left [[Tiflis]] on 29 April/11 May 1886, but he did not head for Italy as originally planned, due to a cholera epidemic which was then raging in [[Naples]]. Instead he sailed from [[Batum]] to [[Marseilles]] (with a brief stop in [[Constantinople]]), and from there made his way up to [[Paris]] — note based on information provided by Vasily Kiselev in {{bibx|1940/226| Чайковский на московской сцене}} (1940), p. 360.</ref>
<ref name="note6">This note was written on the top of the first page of the letter. Tchaikovsky left [[Tiflis]] on 29 April/11 May 1886, but he did not head for Italy as originally planned, due to a cholera epidemic which was then raging in [[Naples]]. Instead, he sailed from [[Batum]] to [[Marseilles]] (with a brief stop in [[Constantinople]]), and from there made his way up to [[Paris]] — note based on information provided by Vasily Kiselev in {{bibx|1940/226| Чайковский на московской сцене}} (1940), p. 360.</ref>
</references>
</references>

Latest revision as of 19:26, 1 February 2025

Date 17/29 April 1886
Addressed to Emiliya Pavlovskaya
Where written Tiflis
Language Russian
Autograph Location Moscow (Russia): Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum (Pavlovskaya collection)
Publication Чайковский на Московской сцене (1940), p. 359–360
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIII (1971), p. 321–322

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Luis Sundkvist
1886 17-го апреля
Тифлис

Дорогая Эмилия Карловна!

Застанет ли Вас это письмо в Петербурге? Знаете ли, что я, ей-Богу, соскучился, не имея так давно никаких известий о Вас и не видав так давно характерного почерка Вашего. Здесь Вы оставили о себе такую прочную память, так часто приходится об Вас говорить, что беспрестанно об Вас вспоминаешь и думаешь. И вот я почувствовал непреодолимое влечение написать Вам словечко и напомнить о себе.

Тифлис мне ужасно нравится: оригинален, живописен, интересен в высшей степени. Со стороны здешнего общества и музыкантов в особенности я встретил такое сочувствие, что не могу не быть особенно тронут и благодарен. Одно только нехорошо: очень много бываю в обществе, очень кучу, вследствие чего Чародейка совсем не подвигается. Опера начнёт свой весенний сезон 20 апреля Джокондой. Услышу здесь на будущей неделе Мазепу, которого тифлисская публика очень полюбила. Из певцов и певиц, с коими я здесь познакомился, симпатичнее всех для меня Зарудная-Иванова. Слышал несколько раз её у неё и у нас. Поёт она умно, изящно, просто, со вкусом. На сцене её ещё не видал, но, кажется, особенно горячего сценического темперамента в ней нет. Лодий здесь производит фурор; говорят, что в Мазепе он удивительно хорош. Как жаль, что такого чудесного артиста не берут в Петербург. Вот бы Княжич для Чародейки. Милая моя благодетельница! Целую Ваши ручки, поздравляю с прошедшими праздниками и посылаю тысячи пожеланий всякого благополучия. Всем кланяйтесь от меня, но особенно Сергею Евграфовичу, Эдуарду Францевичу и Ольге Эдуардовне.

Ваш, П. Чайковский

26 числа еду через Батум и Константинополь в Неаполь, Рим, Париж. Напишите словечко в Рим Poste restante.

1886, 17th April
Tiflis

Will this letter find you in Petersburg? You know, I am truly missing you, as for such a long time I haven't had any news about you or seen your distinctive handwriting. Here you have left such lasting memories of yourself, and the occasion to talk about you presents itself so often [1] that I am constantly thinking about you. And thus I felt an irresistible urge to write a few words to you and remind you of myself.

I like Tiflis very much: it is an original, picturesque, and highly interesting city. I have encountered such sympathy on the part of local society here, and of the musicians in particular, that I cannot but feel greatly touched and grateful. There is only one aspect which is not so good: I am frequenting society a lot and carousing a great deal, which means that The Enchantress is not advancing at all. The opera-house opens its spring season on 20 April with [Ponchielli's] La Gioconda. Here, next week, I shall get to hear Mazepa, which the Tiflis public has come to love very much. Of the singers, male and female, whose acquaintance I have made here, the one I find the nicest is Zarudnaya-Ivanova. I have heard her several times, both at her house and at ours [2]. Her manner of singing is intelligent, elegant yet unaffected, and shows taste. I haven't seen her on the stage yet, but I don't think she is endowed with a particularly passionate dramatic temperament. Lody [3] is causing a sensation here. I have been told that he was astonishingly good in Mazepa. What a pity that such a wonderful artist couldn't get an engagement in Petersburg. He would be splendid for the prince's son in The Enchantress. My dear benefactress [4]! I kiss your hands, send you belatedly my season's greetings [for Easter], and wish you fervently every sort of prosperity. Give my regards to everyone, but in particular to Sergey Yevgrafovich [5], Eduard Frantsevich, and Olga Eduardovna.

Yours, P. Tchaikovsky

On the 26th I am leaving to travel, via Batum and Constantinople, to Naples, Rome and Paris. Do write me a few words, addressing your letter to Rome, Poste restante [6].

Notes and References

  1. During the 1880/81 season and the two following seasons, Emiliya Pavlovskaya had sung in the opera-houses of Odessa, Kharkov and Tiflis — note based on information provided by Vasily Kiselev in Чайковский на московской сцене (1940), p. 311.
  2. In Tiflis, Tchaikovsky was staying at the house of his brother Anatoly.
  3. Pyotr Andreyevich Lody (1855 or 1852–1920), Russian tenor and actor.
  4. From his earliest letters to Pavlovskaya, Tchaikovsky had called her his "benefactress", thereby emphasizing how grateful he was to her for her enthusiastic attitude towards Mazepa (in which she created the role of Mariya at the opera's premiere), as well as towards Yevgeny Onegin, in which she sang Tatyana many times.
  5. Emiliya Pavlovskaya's husband, Sergey Yevgrafovich Pavlovsky (1846–1915), was also a singer (a baritone) and a member of the Saint Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre's troupe.
  6. This note was written on the top of the first page of the letter. Tchaikovsky left Tiflis on 29 April/11 May 1886, but he did not head for Italy as originally planned, due to a cholera epidemic which was then raging in Naples. Instead, he sailed from Batum to Marseilles (with a brief stop in Constantinople), and from there made his way up to Paris — note based on information provided by Vasily Kiselev in Чайковский на московской сцене (1940), p. 360.