Tchaikovsky
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Letter 3558a
| Date | 28 April/10 May 1888 |
|---|---|
| Addressed to | Édouard Bergson |
| Where written | Frolovskoye |
| Language | French |
| Autograph Location | Seattle, Washington (USA): private collection. Auctioned by Christie's, London, 3
December 2003 (see http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4195273&sid=f63ad8f3-e344-4ccf-9880-dc4000cc5c6c  ) |
| Publication | Not previously published |
| Notes |
Includes an autograph musical quotation of six bars from the overture-fantasia
Romeo and Juliet. For a detailed commentary on this letter, see "Klin, near Moscow, was the home of one of the busiest of men …" (Tchaikovsky Research Bulletin No.1) |
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French text (original) |
English translation |
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| Московская губ. г. Клин, с. Фроловское. 28 Апр. 1888 |
Moscow province, town of Klin, village of Frolovskoye. 28 April 1888 |
|
| Monsieur ! | Sir! | |
| Je suis tout honteux de répondre à une lettre, écrite le 10 Fevrier [= Février] et dont le contenu etait [= était] si flatteur pour mon amour propre d'artiste, presque trois mois plus tard !!! Je ne saurai[s] Vous dire combien je suis tourmenté par la conscience de ma faute envers Vous, — mais je ne sais vraiment comment cela s'est fait. Mes amis pourraient Vous attester que je ne pèche jamais par l'inexactitude ou l'incivilité, et je Vous dirai très franchement que j'avais tout bonnement égaré Votre lettre parmi d'autres papiers et que ce n'est qu'aujourd'hui qu'elle est tombé[e] sous mes mains fortuitement. Je m'empresse, Monsieur, de satisfaire Votre désir, je Vous réitère mes vives excuses et Vous prie de croire aux meilleurs sentiments de Votre serviteur devoué [= dévoué]. | I am quite ashamed to be replying to a letter which was written on the 10th of February, and whose contents were so flattering for my artist's pride, almost three months later!!! I cannot tell you how tormented I am by the sense of my fault with regard to you, but I truly do not know how this happened. My friends would be able to attest to you that I never make myself guilty of inaccuracy or impoliteness, and I shall tell you very frankly that I quite simply mislaid your letter among some other papers, and that it is only today that it has fallen into my hands by chance. I hasten, Sir, to satisfy your wish, I reiterate to you my vivid apologies and ask you to believe in the finest sentiments of your devoted servant. | |
| P. Tchaïkovsky | P. Tchaikovsky | |
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This page was last updated on 12 February 2013