Letter 3754a
| Date | 5/17 January 1889 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Hermann Wolff |
| Where written | Frolovskoye |
| Language | French |
| Autograph Location | unknown [1] |
| Publication | Tschaikowsky-Gesellschaft Mitteilungen (2012), p. 118 (original), p. 118–119 (German translation) |
| Notes | Original incorrectly dated "1888" |
Text and Translation
| French text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
5/17 Janvier [18]88 Klin, près Moscou Cher Monsieur Wolff!
A peine avais-je expèdié hier ma lettre, que la Votre m'est arrivée. Elle contient une rèponse à ma question quant aux dâtes des concerts. Veuillez faire savoir à M[onsieu]r Wüllner que je voudrais faire entendre au public de Cologne ma 4me simphonie, mais que, si, par hasard, il tenait absolument à la Suite № 3, — je ne demande pas mieux que de la conduire. A lui de dècider. Vous me direz ce que M[onsieu]r Wüllner aura choisi quand je serai à Berlin, c'est à dire le 5 ou le 6 Fevrier. Quant au programme de Dresde, c'est encore la simphonie № 4 que je voudrais éxécuter, mais si Vous me conseillez plutôt la suite № 3, — je veux bien! Je serai bien content de revoir Emile Sauer à Dresde, — c'est une vieille connaissance! Au revoir, cher ami! P. Tschaïkovsky |
Dear Monsieur Wolff!
I had only just sent my letter yesterday when yours reached me [2]. It contains the answer to my question about the date of the concerts. Please make Monsieur Wüllner [3] aware that I should like the Cologne public to hear my 4th symphony, but if it should happen that he were to absolutely insist on the Suite No. 3, then I could not ask for anything better than to conduct that there. It is for him to decide. You may inform me of Monsieur Wüllner's decision when I am in Berlin, that is, on 5 or 6 February [4]. As for the programme in Dresden, it is also the Symphony No. 4 that I wish to perform, but if you advise me otherwise then I should like the Suite No. 3 instead! I shall be happy to see Emile Sauer again in Dresden — he is an old acquaintance![5] Until we meet, dear friend! P. Tchaikovsky |
Notes and References
- ↑ The autograph was auctioned in 1995 at Sotheby's, London, and was subsequently owned by the Musée des lettres et manuscrits in Paris, until that institution closed in 2015.
- ↑ This earlier letter from Tchaikovsky to Hermann Wolff has not yet come to light.
- ↑ Franz Wüllner (1832–1902), German composer and conductor, who was the kapellmeister of the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne.
- ↑ Tchaikovsky conducted his Suite No. 3 in Cologne on 31 January/12 February 1889.
- ↑ On 8/20 February 1889, Tchaikovsky conducted his Symphony No. 4, and Piano Concerto No. 1 (soloist Emil von Sauer) at the Philharmonic Society concert in Dresden.
