Letter 2677
| Date | 1/13 April 1885 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Emiliya Pavlovskaya |
| Where written | Saint Petersburg |
| Language | Russian |
| Autograph Location | Moscow (Russia): Bakhrushin State Central Theatre Museum (Pavlovskaya collection) |
| Publication | Чайковский на Московской сцене (1940), p. 329 П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIII (1971), p. 53–54. |
Text and Translation
| Russian text (original) |
English translation By Luis Sundkvist |
1-го апреля 1885 г[ода] Дорогая Эмилия Карловна!
Вы совершенно правы, — я сам виноват, что уезжаю, не повидав Вас. Но я был так уверен, что в этот час непременно Вас застану; а уж сегодня, зная, что Вы поёте вечером, никак не ожидал, что опять придётся ограничиться оставлением карточки. К моей величайшей досаде, я должен сегодня уехать, ибо завтра в Москве в качестве одного из Директоров Муз[ыкального] Общ[ества] обязан встречать Вел[икого] князя. Но я непременно Вас увижу до окончания сезона, ибо приеду в Петербург ещё раз. Спасибо Вам, добрейшая, дорогая, милая благодетельница, за чудный портрет. Лучшего подарка нельзя было мне сделать, как столь удачное изображение моей Татьяны, Марии, будущей Оксаны, Чародейки и т. д. и т. д. Будьте здоровы, покойны, счастливы! Если найдётся свободная минуточка, напишите в более или менее близком будущем (Клин, Майданово) Вашему горячо Вас любящему и верному другу. П. Чайковский Поздравляю с новым контрактом. Сергею Евграфовичу дружески кланяюсь. |
1 April 1885 Dear Emiliya Karlovna!
You are quite right: it is my own fault that I am leaving without having seen you. But I was so certain that I would without fail find you at home at that time of the day. As for today, knowing that you would be singing in the evening, I was quite surprised when once again I had to restrict myself to leaving my visiting card. To my great annoyance, I must leave today because in my capacity as one of the directors of the Musical Society I am obliged to meet the Grand Duke in Moscow tomorrow. However, I shall most certainly see you before the end of the season, because I will be coming to Petersburg once again. Thank you, my ever so kind, dear, and sweet benefactress for your wonderful portrait [1]. I could not have received a better present than this so vivid likeness of my Tatyana, Mariya, my future Oksana, Enchantress etc. etc. May you be blessed with health, peace, and happiness! If you have a minute to spare, do write in the more or less near future (to Klin, Maydanovo) to your loyal friend who loves you ardently. P. Tchaikovsky Congratulations on the new contract. Give Sergey Yevgrafovich [2] my cordial regards. |
Notes and References
- ↑ When writing to Emiliya Pavlovskaya Tchaikovsky frequently called her his "benefactress", by which he meant mainly the great service which she had rendered him with her fine performance as Mariya at the premiere of Mazepa. Together with the letter (written on 30 March/11 April or 31 March/12 April 1885) to which Tchaikovsky is replying here, Pavlovskaya had enclosed a photograph of herself which she had had taken specially for Tchaikovsky. Pavlovskaya's letter has been published in Чайковский на московской сцене (1940), p. 328.
- ↑ Emiliya Pavlovskaya's husband, Sergey Yevgrafovich Pavlovsky (1846–1915), was also a singer (baritone) and a member of the Saint Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre's troupe.
