Letter 2567

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 12/24 October 1884
Addressed to Louis de Fourcaud
Where written Saint Petersburg
Language French
Autograph Location unknown [1]
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XII (1970), p. 461
Notes Typed copy in Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve

Text and Translation

Based on a typed copy in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin, which may contain differences in formatting and content from Tchaikovsky's original letter.

French text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
S[ain]t Petersbourg
12 Octobre

Monsieur

Vous m'excuserez, je l'éxpère, si, fatigué à l'excès par les répétitions de mon opéra, je ne puis que Vous adresser ces quelques lignes en réponse à Votre bonne et amiable lettre. Je suis vivement touché de la bienveillance que Vous voulez bien me témoigner et je Vous remercie de tout mon cœur de vos bons souhaits. Comme il est probable que dans une Quinzaine de jours je m'en irai à Moscou, c'est dans cette ville qu'il faudrait envoyer les épreuves de mon morceau. Je Vous promets de les corriger et des renvoyer aussitôt.

Agreez, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes sentiments les plus distingués.

Р. Tschaikovsky

P. S. Je joins à cette lettre ma photographie.


Monsieur

You will forgive me, I hope, if, tired to excess by rehearsals for my opera, I can only send you these few lines in response to your kind and friendly letter. I am deeply touched by the kindness you wish to show me, and I thank you with all my heart for all your good wishes. As I will probably be going to Moscow in a fortnight, it is to this town that the proofs of my piece [2] should be sent. I promise to correct and return them forthwith.

Please agree, Monsieur, to be assured of my finest sentiments.

P. Tchaikovsky

P. S. I enclose my photograph with this letter.

Notes and References

  1. The autograph was advertised for sale at auction on 15 March 2022 [1], 27 October 2020 [2] and 7 July 2020 [3] by Hermitage Fine Art, Monaco; it was previously auctioned in November 1944 by J. A. Stargardt, Marburg (see their catalogue No. 577, lot 842).
  2. The piano piece Impromptu-Caprice, which had been commissioned by Louis de Fourcaud for publication in the Parisian journal Le Gaulois.