Letter 4877

Tchaikovsky Research
Date 28 February/12 March 1893
Addressed to Iosif Suprunenko
Where written Klin
Language Russian
Autograph Location Klin (Russia): Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve (a3, No. 395)
Publication Нева (1959), No. 5, p. 223–224 (abridged)
П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений, том XVII (1981), p. 52

Text and Translation

Russian text
(original)
English translation
By Brett Langston
28 февр[аля] 1893 г[ода]
Клин, Моск[овской] губ[ернии]

Дорогой мой Герман!

Спасибо Вам за чудесные карточки и за милые дружеские строки. Свою пришлю Вам, как только получу заказанные и до сих пор не посланные из Петербурга. Я говорил уже о Вас в самом хвалебном тоне Ивану Александровичу при Пчельникове, — но предложения прямо приглашать Вас не давал, ибо не знал, что Вы решите. Теперь, когда поеду в Петербург, заведу о Вас серьёзный разговор, и хотя моё слово — вовсе не закон для Дирекции, но некоторый вес оно, конечно, имеет, и я сделаю все возможное, чтобы Ваше желание было исполнено. Буду я там на страстной и святой и, если что выяснится, сейчас же напишу Вам, а пока крепко Вас целую. Жене Вашей усердный поклон.

П. Чайковский

28 February 1893
Klin, Moscow province

My dear Herman![1]

Thank you for the wonderful card [2] and for the kind and friendly lines. I will send you mine as soon a I receive the order, which has still not arrived from Petersburg. I have already spoken about you in laudatory terms to Ivan Aleksandrovich with Pchelnikov — but they have not made a proposal to you immediately because they are unsure of your decision. Now, as I leave for Petersburg, you are the subject of serious discussion, and although my word is not entirely the law for the Directorate, it certainly carries some weight, and I will do everything possible to see that your wish is fulfilled [3]. I will be there for Passion Day and Holy Week, and if it works out I shall write to you immediately, but for now I kiss you warmly. An earnest bow to your wife.

P. Tchaikovsky

Notes and References

  1. Suprunenko had performed the role of Herman from The Queen of Spades in Odessa.
  2. Letter from Iosif Suprunenko to Tchaikovsky, 18 February/2 March 1893, which included a photograph of the singer in the roles of Lensky (from Yevgeny Onegin) and Herman (from The Queen of Spades).
  3. Suprunenko was hoping to join the opera company of Imperial Theatres in Saint Petersburg. In April 1895 he eventually made his debut at the Maryinsky Theatre, but despite positive press views he was not accepted into the company because his voice was considered to be too weak for the auditorium at the Maryinsky Theatre.