Letter 3468
| Date | 10/22 January 1888 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Modest Tchaikovsky |
| Where written | Hamburg |
| Language | Russian |
| Autograph Location | Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 1873) |
| Publication | Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 3 (1902), p. 207–208 (abridged) П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 388 П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIV (1974), p. 331–332 Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 387 (English translation) |
Text and Translation
| Russian text (original) |
English translation By Brett Langston |
22/10 Гамбург Концерт был 3-го дня, а я сегодня только нахожу минуту для написания письма. Все прошло вполне благополучно. При выходе оркестр встретил меня восторженно; публика поддержала (чего не было в Лейпциге). Дирижировал я покойно и уверенно, но в конце до того устал, что думал — не выдержу. Аплодировали очень усердно. Сапельников играл превосходно и имел большой успех. После концерта был большой раут у Бернута. Было человек 100 народу во фраках и бальных туалетах. После большой речи Бернута я сказал заранее приготовленную немецкую речь, которая произвела фурор. После того меня повели кутить. Вчера был день ужасный, — я не в силах рассказать, до чего меня раздирали на части и до чего я был утомлён. Вечером было торжество в мою честь в Tonkünstlerverein. Игрались исключительно мои вещи. Пресса отнеслась очень благосклонно. Посылаю тебе две статьи, пусть кто-нибудь тебе переведёт их. После вечера был отчаянный кутёж с массой очень милых и особенно благосклонных ко мне музыкантов, критиков, любителей. Я как в тумане. Сегодня еду в Берлин. Бюлов очень любезен. Целую, обнимаю |
22/10 Hamburg The concert was 3 days ago [1], but I've only today found a moment for writing letters. Everything went quite agreeably. On entering, the orchestra greeted me enthusiastically; the audience were supportive (which they hadn't been in Leipzig). I conducted calmly and confidently, but by the end I was so tired that I didn't think I could keep it up. The applause was very punctilious. Sapelnikov played superbly and had great success. After the concert there was a grand reception with Bernuth [2]. There were 100 people in frock coats and ballgowns. After a long speech by Bernuth I gave a pre-prepared address in German, which caused a furore. After this I was taken carousing. Yesterday was an awful day — I don't have the strength to relate how I was torn to pieces and how tired I was. In the evening there was a gala in my honour at the Tonkünstlerverein [3]. Only my things were played. The press have treated me very favourably. I'm sending you two articles, let someone translate them for you [4]. After the evening there was a frightful drinking binge with masses of musicians, critics and admirers who were very kind and particularly well-disposed towards me. I'm in a daze. Today I'm off to Berlin. Bülow was very obliging. Kisses, hugs. |
Notes and References
- ↑ At the sixth Philharmonic Society concert in Hamburg on 8/20 January 1888, Tchaikovsky had conducted his Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 48; the final movement from the Suite No. 3, Op. 55; and his Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (soloist: Vasily Sapelnikov).
- ↑ Julius von Bernuth (1830-1902), artistic director of the Hamburg Philharmonic Society.
- ↑ The musical society in Hamburg, founded in 1855.
- ↑ Several German newspapers carried reviews of the concert, although it is not possible to establish which of these Tchaikovsky sent to Modest.
