Letter 3695

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 14/26 October 1888
Addressed to Modest Tchaikovsky
Where written Frolovskoye
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 1867)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XIV (1974), p. 566

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
14 октября

Милый Модя! Я только что вернулся из Москвы и спешу написать лишь несколько слов. Мне необходимо нужно, чтобы Сапельников побывал у меня на этой неделе. Я зову его на 2 дня, именно чтобы он приехал в четверг, а уехал в субботу. Мне пришла в голову мысль, что, может быть, ты вздумаешь приехать с ним. Я бы ужасно был рад. Если на дорогу нет денег, можешь взять у Цета; я с ним сочтусь.

Больше ничего не пишу, ибо некогда.

Целую, П. Чайковский

14 October

Dear Modya! I've just returned from Moscow and am rushing to write only a few words. It was essential that Sapelnikov came to visit me this week. I have invited him for 2 days, specifically that he should arrive on Thursday and leave on Saturday. It occurred to me that perhaps you might decide to accompany him. I should be terribly glad. If you don't have money for the journey, you can borrow some from Zet [1]; I'll settle up with him.

I'm not writing any more because there's no time.

I kiss you, P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Julius Zet (in Russia: Yuly Tset) was for many years secretary to the pianist Sophie Menter, and it was through her that he met Tchaikovsky. In 1888 he became the composer's representative in his negotiations with Western European concert agents. Tchaikovsky thought very highly of Zet's personal qualities, but the latter did not have a good eye for business and many of his ambitious enterprises fell through. He left Russia in 1891 and never went back again. See Жизнь Петра Ильича Чайковского, том 3 (1997), p. 229, n. 1.