Letter 3417
| Date | 24 November/6 December 1887 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Leopold Auer |
| Where written | Maydanovo |
| Language | French |
| Autograph Location | Moscow (Russia): Russian State Archive of Literature and Art (ф. 701) |
| Publication | Вопросы музыкально-исполнительского искусства (1958), p. 258 (Russian translation) Леолольд Семенович Ауэр. Очерк жизни и деятельности (1962), p. 101–102 (Russian translation) П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIV (1974), p. 269–270 |
Text and Translation
| French text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
Клин. С[ело] Майданово Mon cher ami!
C'est entendu, — je viendrai pour le 3-me concert et je te remercie de tout mon cœur pour la complaisance avec laquelle tu as accueilli ma requête. J'arriverai le 8 mais si tu le veux bien, je répéterai le 9 ou le 10 pour ne pas passer directement du wagon à la salle de concert. Les parties d'orchestre de "Mozartiana" sont gravées et autant que je me souviens il n'y а pas de fautes d'impressions. Certainement je pourrai faire venir les parties d'orchestre de Moscou, mais mon éditeur P. Jurgenson s'en formaliserait, car si la Société Musicale et Impériale de Pétersbourg ne lui achète pas la partition et les parties, qui donc les lui achètera et pour qui les a-t-il gravées? Pour que tu n'aie pas à t'en inquiéter je viens d'ecrire à Jurgenson pour qu'il expédie au Conservatoire la partition et les parties (d'après la liste que tu en as faite) et nous verrons ce qu'il у aura а faire quant au paiement. Il me semble que la Section de Pétersbourg ne refusera pas de les acquérir, sinon je les paierai moi-même. Enfin sois tranquille, je me charge des parties d'orchestre et de la partition. Quant а la place que doit prendre "Mozartiana" dans le programme, je m'en rapporte à toi; mais je crois que cette pièce convient d'avantage au commencement du concert, car elle est trop modestement instrumentée pour la fin. Salutations empressées à M[ada]me Auer. Au revoir mon bien cher ami! P. Tschaikovsky Merci, merci, mille fois pour "Roméo et Juliette"!!! |
My dear friend!
It is settled, — I will come for the 3rd concert and thank you with all my heart for accepting my request so obligingly [1]. I will be arriving on the 8th, but if you are agreeable, I will rehearse on the 9th or on the 10th, in order that I should not proceed directly from the train carriage to the concert hall [2]. The orchestral parts for "Mozartiana" are engraved and, so far as I recall, there are no printing errors. I will certainly be able to bring the orchestral parts from Moscow, but my publisher, P. Jurgenson would disapprove, because if the Imperial Musical Society in Petersburg do not themselves purchase the full score and the parts, then who will buy them from him, and who did he engrave them for? In order that you need not concern yourself about this, I have already written to Jurgenson [3] so that he will send the full score and parts to the Conservatory (according to the list you made), and we will see what can be done regarding payment. It seems to me that the Petersburg Section will not refuse to acquire them, but if it is otherwise then I will pay for the myself. And so rest assured that I will be responsible for the orchestral parts and the full score. As to the position of "Mozartiana" in the programme, I will rely on your judgement; but I think this piece is better suited to the beginning of the concert, because it is scored too modestly for the end [4]. Ardent greetings to Madame Auer. Until we meet, my dear and good friend! P. Tchaikovsky Thank you, thank you a thousandfold for "Romeo and Juliet"!!! [5] |
Notes and References
- ↑ Tchaikovsky was replying to a letter from Leopold Auer dated 20 November/2 December 1887. See also Tchaikovsky's Letter 3404 to Auer, 17/29 November 1887
- ↑ In the event, Tchaikovsky arrived in Saint Petersburg on 9/21 December, and rehearsals for the concert took place on 10/22 and 11/23 December.
- ↑ See Letter 3416 to Pyotr Jurgenson written this same day.
- ↑ The programme of the third RMS symphony concert on 12/24 December was: (1) Luigi Cherubini — overture to Anacreon (1803); (2) Pyotr Tchaikovsky — Suite No. 4, Op. 61 (1887) [first performance]; (3) Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 (1809-10), soloist Alfred Reisenauer; (4) Gioachino Rossini — aria from the opera La gazza ladra, soloist Condel; (5) Karl Davydov, Suite for Orchestra, Op. 37 [first performance]. Apart from "Mozartiana", which was conducted by Tchaikovsky, the remaining items were conducted by Leopold Auer.
- ↑ On 14/26 November 1887, Auer had conducted Tchaikovsky's overture-fantasia Romeo and Juliet at the 1st RMS concert of the season in Saint Petersburg.
