Letter 4077

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 23 March/4 April 1890
Addressed to Modest Tchaikovsky
Where written Florence
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 1937)
Publication П. И. Чайковский. Письма к близким. Избранное (1955), p. 452
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XV-Б (1977), p. 108
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Letters to his family. An autobiography (1981), p. 452–453 (English translation)

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
4 апр[еля]/23 марта [18]90 г[ода]

Милый Модя!

Ох, измучен я этим клавираусцугом! Но скоро конец! Куда уеду, до сих пор не знаю; дам знать телеграммой.

Радуюсь, что «Симфония» пристроена! Попытка Горевой купить её послужила тебе в пользу, ибо теперь Пчельников позаботится о пиэсе. Конечно, в конце концов так лучше. Не можешь себе представить, как мне приятны слова Чехова обо мне. Я ему напишу, когда немножко войду в норму.

Я здоров, но легко утомляюсь и больших писем писать решительно не могу. Деньги получил, и весьма кстати.

Твой П. Чайковский

4 April/23 March 1890

Dear Modya!

Oh this piano reduction is exhausting![1] But it will soon be finished! I still don't know where I'm going; I'll let you know by telegram.

I'm glad that "The Symphony" is all set![2] Trying to sell it to Goreva [3] worked in your favour, because now Pchelnikov will be taking the play on. Of course, all's well that ends well. You can't imagine how welcome Chekhov's words about me are [4]. I'll write to him when things are a little more back to normal [5].

I'm well, but tiring easily, and categorically can't write long letters. I've received the money, which was extremely helpful.

Yours, P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. The vocal-piano reduction of the opera The Queen of Spades.
  2. In his letter to the composer dated 17/29 March 1890, Modest reported that his play The Symphony had been accepted for performance at the Maly Theate in Moscow in November 1890.
  3. Yelizaveta Nikolayevna Goreva (1859=1917). dramatic actress and impresario.
  4. Modest had received a letter from Anton Chekhov, which included the words: "I am prepared to stand day and night as a guard of honour at the porch of the house where Peter Ilyich lives — such is the extent of my respect for him. If we were to talk of ranks, then in Russian art he now occupies second place after Lev Tolstoy, who has already long been seated in the first.
  5. This letter to Anton Chekhov (if written) has not survived.