Letter 4060

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 5/17 March 1890
Addressed to Modest Tchaikovsky
Where written Florence
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 1932)
Publication Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 3 (1902), p. 358 (abridged)
П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 448–449
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XV-Б (1977), p. 90
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 449–450 (English translation; abridged)

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
5/17 марта [18]90

Я получил из римских гостиниц, в кои обращался, ответы, что отдельные помещения дать мне не могут, ибо все полно. Заключил из этого, что трудно будет устроиться так удобно, как здесь, и, хорошенько обдумав, решил, дабы не прерывать работы и терять времени на искание помещения, продолжать хорошо работать здесь. Здесь очень скучно, очень одно-образно, но нельзя выдумать более подходящих условий для работы. Ведь я приехал не путешествовать, а писать. Итак, остаюсь здесь, пока не кончу клавираусцуга.

Боялся, что Назар огорчится, но нисколько. Он удивительно складный! На всех парах пишу клавираусцуг. Сейчас написал большое деловое письмо в Москву и очень устал. Поэтому Коле напишу завтра.

Целую, обнимаю.

П. Чайковский

5/17 March 1890

I've received answers from the hotels in Rome that I approached, that they cannot provide me with single rooms, because everywhere is full. From this I concluded that it would be difficult to settle as comfortably there as I am here here, and, after careful consideration, I've decided not to interrupt my work and waste time searching for accommodation, and to continue working well here. It is very tedious and monotonous here, but it's impossible to conceive of conditions more suited to work. After all, I came here to write, not to travel. And so I shall remain here, at least until the piano reduction is finished [1].

I was afraid that Nazar would be upset, but not at all. He is remarkably amenable! I'm writing the piano reduction at full steam. I've just written a long business letter to Moscow [2], and I'm very tired. Therefore I will write to Kolya tomorrow.

Kisses, hugs.

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Tchaikovsky had begun the vocal-piano reduction of his opera The Queen of Spades the previous day, 4/16 March 1890.
  2. This letter has not survived.