Letter 3248

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 1/13 May 1887
Addressed to Modest Tchaikovsky
Where written Maydanovo
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 1846)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIV (1974), p. 105–106

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
1-го мая
с[ело] Майданово

Поздравляю с 37! Гм, гм!... А мне 47! Гм! Гм....

Ты, я думаю, очень удивился моей телеграмме из Москвы, мы посылали её с Ларошем, у которого я полчаса вчера просидел. Ездил я на один день ради серебряной свадьбы Альбрехта и вернулся с курьерским. Сегодня опять та же каторжная работа. Разом получил и от тебя и от Эммы утешительные известия о Н[иколае] Д[митриевиче]. Но надолго ли это?

Рука Лароша срослась, но он ещё не выходит и рука забинтована. Ничего не сделал за все время. Как Москва мне показалась противна, и как я живо чувствовал вчера всю прелесть деревни и одиночества.

Обнимаю.

П. Чайковский

Итак, решай—ехать мне или нет в Петербург.

1st May
Maydanovo village

Congratulations on being 37! Hmm, Hmm!... And I'm 47! Hmm! Hmm...

I think you were very surprised by my telegram from Moscow [1] that I sent with Laroche, with whom I sat with for half-an-hour yesterday. I went for one day for the sake of Albrecht's silver wedding, and came back on the express. Today it's been the same drudgery again [2]. I received comforting news about Nikolay Dmitryevich simultaneously both from you and Emma [3]. But how much longer can this last?

Laroche's hand is on the mend, but he's still not going out and his hand is bandaged. I didn't do anything the whole time. How Moscow appals me, and how alive I felt yesterday in the midst of delightful countryside and solitude.

I hug you.

P. Tchaikovsky

So then, make up your mind whether to meet me in Petersburg or not.

Notes and References

  1. ↑ The composer's telegram to Modest Tchaikovsky has not survived.
  2. ↑ Tchaikovsky was working on the orchestration of the third act of his opera The Enchantress.
  3. ↑ Letters from Modest Tchaikovsky and Emma Genton, dated 29 April/10 May 1887.