Letter 1693a

Tchaikovsky Research
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Date 23 February/7 March 1881
Addressed to Enrico Bevignani
Where written Rome
Language French
Autograph Location unknown[1]
Publication Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen, Heft 20 (2013), p. 203 (abridged)

Text and Translation

This incomplete text is based on the partial facsimile and extracts published in Stargardt's 1994 auction catalogue [2], and may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.

French text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
Rome, 7 Mars

Cher maitre et ami!

Je n'ai reçu Votre bonne lettre qu'ici, dans cette chère et bienaimée Rome, ou je me trouve depuis 5 jours. Mon Dieu, que Votre patrie est belle! Si Vous saviez combien je jouis de ce chaud et brillant soleil de printemps, de cette masse de fleur qu'on voit dans les rues, de touts ces beaux monuments et de touts ces chef d'œuvres que j'admire tous le jours [...]

Et puis quel bonheur d'être enfin libre comme l'air, de n'avoir aucun souci, de pouvoir vivre sans être obligé de voir un tas de gens parmi [...] ceux auxquels on s'intéresse ne sont que des exceptions! [...]

Mon opéra a eu du succès. J'ai été rappelé 24 fois. L'exécution a été bonne mais la mise en scène très médiocre. Les artistes ont fait tout ce qui a été possible et j'ai été bien touché de la simpathie que ma musique leur inspire.

Je ne puis en dire autant de la direction [...]. Mais ce qui me rend complètement heureux, mon cher maestro, c'est que Onèguine a gagné Votre simpathie. Je considérerai toujours cette œuvre comme le plus cher fils de mes œuvres [...]

Rome, 7 March

Dear maestro and friend!

I have only here received your kind letter, in this dear and beloved city of Rome, where I have found myself for 5 days. My God, how beautiful your country is! If you knew how much I was enjoying this warm and bright spring sunshine, this mass of flowers one can see in the streets, all the beautiful monuments, and all the masterpieces which I admire every day [...]

And what happiness to be finally free as the air, without any concerns, to live without being obliged to see a mass of people [...] the only exceptions being the interesting ones! [...]

My opera was a success [3]. I was called for 24 times. The performances were good, but the staging very mediocre. The artists did everything they possibly could, and have been most touched by the sympathy that my music inspired in them.

I cannot say the same for the conducting [...]. But what restores some of my good spirits, my dear maestro, is that Onegin has won your sympathy. I have always considered this the favourite son of my works [...]

Notes and References

  1. The autograph was auctioned on 8 October 1994 in Berlin by J. A. Stargardt.
  2. J. A. Stargardt, Musikautographen. Sammlung Max Reis und anderer Besitz. Auktion in Basel, 8. Oktober 1994. Auktion 67 Erasmushaus Haus der Bücher AG Basel. Katalog 657 (item No. 246), including a facsimile of the first page.
  3. Tchaikovsky is referring to The Maid of Orleans, which had its premiere ten days previously, on 13/25 February 1881, at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, conducted by Eduard Nápravník.