Letter 279: Difference between revisions
m (1 revision imported) |
m ("sestritsa" with small s mid-sentence) |
||
| (One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
{{right|Пётр Чайковский}} | {{right|Пётр Чайковский}} | ||
|Translated text={{right|''9 December'' 1872 | |Translated text={{right|''9 December'' 1872}} | ||
{{centre|Dear [[Papochka]]!}} | {{centre|Dear [[Papochka]]!}} | ||
Pyotr Vasilyevich Davydov <ref name="note1"/> told me the other day that he'd received some letter or other from [[Petersburg]] forwarded to Aleksandra Ivanovna <ref name="note2"/>. I wondered whether this might be your letter, and that you hadn't received mine written to you around two weeks ago <ref name="note3"/>. Could it be that you are angry with me, or did I give the address incorrectly? In short, could I ask you immediately upon receipt of this letter to reply, in order to allay all my concerns | Pyotr Vasilyevich Davydov <ref name="note1"/> told me the other day that he'd received some letter or other from [[Petersburg]] forwarded to Aleksandra Ivanovna <ref name="note2"/>. I wondered whether this might be your letter, and that you hadn't received mine written to you around two weeks ago <ref name="note3"/>. Could it be that you are angry with me, or did I give the address incorrectly? In short, could I ask you immediately upon receipt of this letter to reply, in order to allay all my concerns? | ||
[[Anatoly]] and [[Modest]] have written very little to me, and the former not even once since he returned from abroad. I'm hoping to spend the holidays with [[Nikolay Rubinstein|Rubinstein]] in [[Kiev]] and to see both brothers <ref name="note4"/>. | [[Anatoly]] and [[Modest]] have written very little to me, and the former not even once since he returned from abroad. I'm hoping to spend the holidays with [[Nikolay Rubinstein|Rubinstein]] in [[Kiev]] and to see both brothers <ref name="note4"/>. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 36: | ||
All the Davydovs are worried about Vasily Vasilyevich <ref name="note7"/>, who has caught a cold that is complicating his illness. Everyone else is well. The weather here is despicable; sharp frosts, without snow. ''Nilsson'' <ref name="note8"/> is causing a sensation at the theatre; I saw her yesterday in "Hamlet" <ref name="note9"/>. She is decidedly charming and her singing is superb; although her voice isn't as sonorous as [[Patti]]'s <ref name="note10"/>, her acting is simply perfect. Do you go to the theatre, my dear? Write and tell me how you are in general, who you see, and where you go. What about fatty <ref name="note11"/>, how is she doing? | All the Davydovs are worried about Vasily Vasilyevich <ref name="note7"/>, who has caught a cold that is complicating his illness. Everyone else is well. The weather here is despicable; sharp frosts, without snow. ''Nilsson'' <ref name="note8"/> is causing a sensation at the theatre; I saw her yesterday in "Hamlet" <ref name="note9"/>. She is decidedly charming and her singing is superb; although her voice isn't as sonorous as [[Patti]]'s <ref name="note10"/>, her acting is simply perfect. Do you go to the theatre, my dear? Write and tell me how you are in general, who you see, and where you go. What about fatty <ref name="note11"/>, how is she doing? | ||
I received a letter recently from ''sestritsa'' ''Nastasya Vasilyevna'' <ref name="note12"/>, in which she reminded me about the 25 rubles which I ought to have sent her earlier, but to my embarrassment I had forgotten. Naturally I hastened to correct this oversight. So farewell | I received a letter recently from ''sestritsa'' ''Nastasya Vasilyevna'' <ref name="note12"/>, in which she reminded me about the 25 rubles which I ought to have sent her earlier, but to my embarrassment I had forgotten. Naturally I hastened to correct this oversight. So farewell my darling, and I look forward to your little letter. I kiss you and [[Lizaveta Mikhaylovna]] hard. | ||
Your affectionate loving son, | Your affectionate loving son, | ||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
<ref name="note4">This intended trip to [[Kiev]] did not take place.</ref> | <ref name="note4">This intended trip to [[Kiev]] did not take place.</ref> | ||
<ref name="note5">The [[Symphony No. 2]] in C minor, known as the "Little Russian".</ref> | <ref name="note5">The [[Symphony No. 2]] in C minor, known as the "Little Russian".</ref> | ||
<ref name="note6">Tchaikovsky's third opera, | <ref name="note6">Tchaikovsky's third opera, [[The Oprichnik]], which would be first performed in [[Saint Petersburg]] on 12/24 April 1874.</ref> | ||
<ref name="note7">Vasily Vasilyevich Davydov (1829-1873), an older brother of [[Lev Davydov]].</ref> | <ref name="note7">Vasily Vasilyevich Davydov (1829-1873), an older brother of [[Lev Davydov]].</ref> | ||
<ref name="note8">Christina Nilsson (1843–1921), famous Swedish soprano.</ref> | <ref name="note8">Christina Nilsson (1843–1921), famous Swedish soprano.</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 16:56, 23 February 2024
| Date | 9/21 December 1872 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Ilya Tchaikovsky |
| Where written | Moscow |
| Language | Russian |
| Autograph Location | Saint Petersburg (Russia): National Library of Russia (ф. 834, ед. хр. 33, л. 105–106) |
| Publication | Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 1 (1900), p. 396 (abridged) П. И. Чайковский. Письма к родным (1940), p. 186–187 П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 77–78 (abridged) П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том V (1959), p. 292 Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 75–76 (English translation; abridged) |
Text and Translation
| Russian text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
9 декабря 1872 г[ода] Милый Папочка!
Пётр Васильевич Давыдов говорил мне на днях, что получил какое-то письмо из Петербурга для передачи Александре Ивановне. Я вообразил, что это уж не Ваше ли письмо, и что Вы не получили моего, написанного Вам недели две тому назад. Не сердитесь ли Вы на меня и не переврал ли я адрес? Одним словом, попрошу Вас немедленно по получении сего письма отвечать, чтобы разрешить все мои недоумения и беспокойства. Анатолий и Модест мне весьма мало пишут, а первый не написал ни разу по приезде из-за границы. Я мечтаю на праздниках вместе с Рубинштейном съездить в Киев и повидать обоих братьев. Про себя особенно нового и интересного сказать ничего не имею. Здоровье в хорошем состоянии, но нервы по-прежнему часто дают себя знать. Теперь я немножко ленюсь и ничего не пишу; хочется, чтобы прежде была исполнена моя новая симфония, которую я считаю своим до сих пор лучшим произведением. Насчёт моей оперы я теперь почти уверен, что она будет дана в будущем сезоне. Уже две цензуры (театральная и драматическая) её пропустили; остаётся только музыкальный комитет, который, как мне говорят, наверно её пропустит. У Давыдовых все беспокоятся насчёт Василья Васильевича, который простудился, и эта простуда усложняет его болезнь. Все остальные здоровы. Погода у нас стоит преподлая; мороз сильный, а снегу нет. В театре производит фурор Нильсон; я её вчера видел в «Гамлете». Она действительно очаровательна; поёт превосходно, хотя и не имеет такого звучного голоса, как Патти; но зато в отношении игры—это просто совершенство. Бываете ли Вы в театре, мой милый, и вообще напишите мне, как живете, с кем видитесь, где бываете. Что толстушка, как она поживает? Недавно получил я письмо от сестрицы Наст[асьи] Вас[ильевны], она напоминает мне о 25 рублях, которые я должен был выслать раньше, да позабыл к моему горю и стыду. Конечно, я поспешил исправить свою ошибку. Итак, прощайте, мой дорогой, и осчастливьте меня письмецом. Целую крепко Вас и Лиз[авету] Мих[айловну]. Ваш нежно любящий сын, Пётр Чайковский |
9 December 1872 Dear Papochka!
Pyotr Vasilyevich Davydov [1] told me the other day that he'd received some letter or other from Petersburg forwarded to Aleksandra Ivanovna [2]. I wondered whether this might be your letter, and that you hadn't received mine written to you around two weeks ago [3]. Could it be that you are angry with me, or did I give the address incorrectly? In short, could I ask you immediately upon receipt of this letter to reply, in order to allay all my concerns? Anatoly and Modest have written very little to me, and the former not even once since he returned from abroad. I'm hoping to spend the holidays with Rubinstein in Kiev and to see both brothers [4]. I have nothing especially new or interesting to say about myself. I'm in a good state of health, but my nerves still frequently make themselves felt. At the moment I'm being rather lazy, and not writing anything; I'm waiting for the performance of my new symphony [5], which I consider my best work so far. So far as my opera [6] is concerned, I'm now almost certain that it will be given in the next season. The two censors (of theatre and drama) have already passed it; only the music committee remains, which I'm told are likely to pass it. All the Davydovs are worried about Vasily Vasilyevich [7], who has caught a cold that is complicating his illness. Everyone else is well. The weather here is despicable; sharp frosts, without snow. Nilsson [8] is causing a sensation at the theatre; I saw her yesterday in "Hamlet" [9]. She is decidedly charming and her singing is superb; although her voice isn't as sonorous as Patti's [10], her acting is simply perfect. Do you go to the theatre, my dear? Write and tell me how you are in general, who you see, and where you go. What about fatty [11], how is she doing? I received a letter recently from sestritsa Nastasya Vasilyevna [12], in which she reminded me about the 25 rubles which I ought to have sent her earlier, but to my embarrassment I had forgotten. Naturally I hastened to correct this oversight. So farewell my darling, and I look forward to your little letter. I kiss you and Lizaveta Mikhaylovna hard. Your affectionate loving son, Pyotr Tchaikovsky |
Notes and References
- ↑ Pyotr Vasilyevich Davydov (1825-1915), an older brother of Lev Davydov.
- ↑ Aleksandra Ivanovna Davydova (b. Potapova, 1802-1895), the mother of Lev Davydov.
- ↑ Letter 277 to Ilya Tchaikovsky, 22 November/4 December 1872.
- ↑ This intended trip to Kiev did not take place.
- ↑ The Symphony No. 2 in C minor, known as the "Little Russian".
- ↑ Tchaikovsky's third opera, The Oprichnik, which would be first performed in Saint Petersburg on 12/24 April 1874.
- ↑ Vasily Vasilyevich Davydov (1829-1873), an older brother of Lev Davydov.
- ↑ Christina Nilsson (1843–1921), famous Swedish soprano.
- ↑ The opera by the French composer Ambroise Thomas (1811–1896). Tchaikovsky reviewed this performance in one of his articles for the Moscow journal Russian Register — see TH 272.
- ↑ Adelina Patti (1843-1919), highly acclaimed 19th-century operatic soprano, who frequently performed with the Italian Opera in Moscow.
- ↑ A light-hearted reference to the somewhat rotund physique of Ilya Tchaikovsky's wife, Yelizaveta.
- ↑ Anastasiya Vasilyevna Popova (1807–1894), the daughter of Ilya Tchaikovsky's older sister Yevdokiya Popova, known affectionately as 'Sestritsa', or 'little sister'.
