Letter 396 - Revision history

Tony: Text replacement - "In the letter" to "If the latter" for accuracy of meaning / Inserted "it" for clarity of meaning

2024-03-09T14:57:28Z

Text replacement - "In the letter" to "If the latter" for accuracy of meaning / Inserted "it" for clarity of meaning

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:57, 9 March 2024
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	\|Translated text={{right\|''22 March''<br/>[[Moscow]]}}		\|Translated text={{right\|''22 March''<br/>[[Moscow]]}}
	{{centre\|Dear friend!}}		{{centre\|Dear friend!}}
	In order to put an end to any misunderstandings, I am telling you directly that I cannot give you "[[Vakula]]" for the reasons about which I told you in detail when we met. Although I have asked you before to liberate me from the delicate sensitivities of a man who could not fulfil his obligations, now I ask you the same thing again. If I venture to act in this way, then this is because, for all your friendly services, I think you did quite satisfactorily out of "''[[The Oprichnik]]''". I know that this was not a gold mine for you, but in any case you did not suffer a loss. In the ~~letter~~ had occurred, if you had made a number of sacrifices for me, then I would probably have tried to compensate you with "''[[Vakula]]''"; but since I flatter myself with the hope that this was not so, then in the present circumstances I cannot but give preference to [[Jurgenson]], who will become my mortal enemy if my second opera evades his grasp. He has done nothing to deserve my inflicting such a wound upon him. You say that your brother had ambitions to publish every Russian opera; [[Jurgenson]] is far more modest: he merely wants my operas, and out of the two of you, he would have suffered a greater loss had I not given him "[[Vakula]]". Anyway, it is very possible that it is you who have the advantage now, even without receiving this opera; still, God knows if it will win the prize; God knows if it will make it to the stage; God knows whether it will be sufficiently profitable for a publisher to consider taking it on. But in any case — this is not my last opera, merely the second.		In order to put an end to any misunderstandings, I am telling you directly that I cannot give you "[[Vakula]]" for the reasons about which I told you in detail when we met. Although I have asked you before to liberate me from the delicate sensitivities of a man who could not fulfil his obligations, now I ask you the same thing again. If I venture to act in this way, then this is because, for all your friendly services, I think you did quite satisfactorily out of "''[[The Oprichnik]]''". I know that this was not a gold mine for you, but in any case you did not suffer a loss. If the latter had occurred, if you had made a number of sacrifices for me, then I would probably have tried to compensate you with "''[[Vakula]]''"; but since I flatter myself with the hope that this was not so, then in the present circumstances I cannot but give preference to [[Jurgenson]], who will become my mortal enemy if my second opera evades his grasp. He has done nothing to deserve my inflicting such a wound upon him. You say that your brother had ambitions to publish every Russian opera; [[Jurgenson]] is far more modest: he merely wants my operas, and out of the two of you, he would have suffered a greater loss had I not given him "[[Vakula]]". Anyway, it is very possible that it is you who have the advantage now, even without receiving this opera; still, God knows if it will win the prize; God knows if it will make it to the stage; God knows whether it will be sufficiently profitable for a publisher to consider taking it on. But in any case — this is not my last opera, merely the second.

	I know that you will be no little disappointed by this letter, and be sure that this is very unpleasant for me. But since I must inevitably incur the displeasure of one or other of my publishers, then I am prepared for this, and I hope that in time you yourself will agree that I could not have done otherwise. I chose the lesser of two evils. I say to you directly that although I am perfectly satisfied with our relations as my publisher, I ''owe'' [[Jurgenson]] far more than you. There have been many cases when he has helped me to the detriment of his own interests. I should very much like that, despite your hostility towards [[Jurgenson]], you would simply accept the fact that in the present circumstances I found myself obliged to give preference to him. I should hope that our friendly relations will remain as before, and that neither our personal nor our business relationships are in the least altered.		I know that you will be no little disappointed by this letter, and be sure that this is very unpleasant for me. But since I must inevitably incur the displeasure of one or other of my publishers, then I am prepared for this, and I hope that in time you yourself will agree that I could not have done otherwise. I chose the lesser of two evils. I say to you directly that although I am perfectly satisfied with our relations as my publisher, I ''owe'' [[Jurgenson]] far more than you. There have been many cases when he has helped me to the detriment of his own interests. I should very much like that, despite your hostility towards [[Jurgenson]], you would simply accept the fact that in the present circumstances I found myself obliged to give preference to him. I should hope that our friendly relations will remain as before, and that neither our personal nor our business relationships are in the least altered.
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	{{right\|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}}		{{right\|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}}
	P. S. I also wanted to ask you whether you intend to print the full score of my [[Symphony No. 2\|second symphony]]?		P. S. I also wanted to ask you whether you intend to print the full score of my [[Symphony No. 2\|second symphony]]?
	[[Jurgenson]] has now printed both the full score and piano reduction of the first, and yet is far weaker than the second. This is of great interest to me, and I confess that I will be offended if you do nothing. Besides, I promised [[Stasov]] the original for the Public Library. Do you have a copy?		[[Jurgenson]] has now printed both the full score and piano reduction of the first, and yet it is far weaker than the second. This is of great interest to me, and I confess that I will be offended if you do nothing. Besides, I promised [[Stasov]] the original for the Public Library. Do you have a copy?
	{{right\|P. T.}}		{{right\|P. T.}}
	Furthermore, take into account that I have given you the romances for that price, which in accepting I voluntarily deprived myself of a significant amount, for [[Jurgenson]] entirely seriously and firmly offered me twice as much if I would give them all to him.		Furthermore, take into account that I have given you the romances for that price, which in accepting I voluntarily deprived myself of a significant amount, for [[Jurgenson]] entirely seriously and firmly offered me twice as much if I would give them all to him.

Brett: 1 revision imported

2022-07-12T12:20:09Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:20, 12 July 2022
(No difference)

Brett at 10:28, 22 September 2020

2020-09-22T10:28:52Z

New page

{{letterhead
|Date=22 March/3 April 1875
|To=[[Vasily Bessel]]
|Place=[[Moscow]]
|Language=Russian
|Autograph=[[Moscow]] (Russia): {{RUS-Mcm}} (ф. 42, No. 254)
|Publication={{bibx|1938/25|Советская музыка}} (1938), No. 6, p. 45–46 {{bib|1959/50|П. И. Чайковский. Полное собрание сочинений ; том V}} (1959), p. 399–400
}}
==Text and Translation==
{{Lettertext
|Language=Russian
|Translator=Brett Langston
|Original text={{right|''22 марта'' Москва}}
{{centre|Милый друг!}}
Чтобы покончить все недоразумения, я скажу тебе прямо, что «Вакулу» отдать тебе не могу по причинам, о которых я достаточно тебе говорил при свидании. Хотя я просил тебя освободить меня от щекотливого ощущения человека, не исполнившего своё обещание, — но теперь ещё раз прошу о том же. Если я решаюсь так действовать, то это потому, что за все твои дружеские услуги я считаю тебя достаточно удовлетворённым «''Опричником''». Я знаю, что ты не приобрёл в нем золотой мины, — но во всяком случае и убытка не потерпел. Если бы последнее случилось, если б ты принёс ради меня какие-нибудь жертвы, то я бы, вероятно, постарался вознаградить тебя «''Вакулой''»; но так как я льщу себя надеждой, что этого не было, то не могу не отдать в настоящем случае предпочтения Юргенсону, который сделается моим смертельным врагом, если моя вторая опера уйдёт из его рук. Он ничем не заслужил, чтоб я нанёс ему кровную обиду. Ты говоришь, что твой брат задался мыслью издавать все русские оперы; Юрг[енсон] гораздо скромнее: он желает только моих опер, и из Вас двух он потерял бы больше, если б я не ему отдал «Вакулу». Впрочем, очень может быть, что именно ты-то. и выигрываешь теперь, не получая этой оперы; ещё, Бог знает, получит ли она премию; Бог знает, попадёт ли на сцену; Бог знает, стоит ли она того, чтоб издатель мог считать выгодным для себя её приобретенье. Во всяком случае, — ведь это не последняя моя опера, а только вторая.

Я знаю, что наношу тебе маленькую неприятность этим письмом, и поверь, что это мне очень неприятно. Но так как я неизбежно должен был навлечь на себя неудовольствие того или другого из моих издателей, то я к этому приготовлен и надеюсь, что со временем ты сам согласишься, что я не мог иначе поступить. Из двух зол я выбрал меньшее. Я тебе скажу прямо, что, хотя я совершенно доволен всеми твоими издательскими отношениями со мной, но Юргенсону я ''обязан'' гораздо больше, чем тебе. Было много случаев, когда он выручал меня в ущерб своим интересам. Я бы очень желал, чтобы, несмотря на твою враждебность к Юрг[енсону], ты бы легко помирился с тем обстоятельством, что я нашёл себя вынужденным в настоящем случае отдать ему предпочтение. Я бы желал, чтобы мы оставались по-прежнему друзьями и чтобы ни наши личные, ин деловые отношения нисколько не изменились.

Романсы я тебе выслал вместе с корректурой. Так ли я выставил op.? Должно стоять ''25''; не соврал ли я?
{{right|Твой, П. Чайковский}}
P. S. Ещё я хотел тебя спросить, намерен ли ты печатать партитуру моей второй симфонии? Юргенсон теперь печатает разом партитуру и клавираусцуг первой, а между тем она гораздо слабее второй. Это меня очень интересует, и признаюсь, что я буду в обиде, если ты этого не сделаешь. К тому же я обещал Стасову оригинал для Публичной библиотеки. Есть ли у тебя копия?
{{right|П. Ч.}}
Ещё прими в соображение, что, отдав тебе романсы за ту цену, которую я взял, я добровольно лишил себя значительной суммы, ибо Юргенсон совершенно серьёзно и положительно предлагал мне вдвое с тем, чтоб все отдавать ему.
--------------
Я, нижеподписавшийся, даю сию расписку в том, что получил от Василия Васильевича ''Бесселя'' (150) сто пятьдесят рублей серебром за проданные ему мною шесть романсов, ор. 25.
{{right|Пётр Чайковский 22 марта 1875 г[ода] Москва.}}

|Translated text={{right|''22 March'' [[Moscow]]}}
{{centre|Dear friend!}}
In order to put an end to any misunderstandings, I am telling you directly that I cannot give you "[[Vakula]]" for the reasons about which I told you in detail when we met. Although I have asked you before to liberate me from the delicate sensitivities of a man who could not fulfil his obligations, now I ask you the same thing again. If I venture to act in this way, then this is because, for all your friendly services, I think you did quite satisfactorily out of "''[[The Oprichnik]]''". I know that this was not a gold mine for you, but in any case you did not suffer a loss. In the letter had occurred, if you had made a number of sacrifices for me, then I would probably have tried to compensate you with "''[[Vakula]]''"; but since I flatter myself with the hope that this was not so, then in the present circumstances I cannot but give preference to [[Jurgenson]], who will become my mortal enemy if my second opera evades his grasp. He has done nothing to deserve my inflicting such a wound upon him. You say that your brother had ambitions to publish every Russian opera; [[Jurgenson]] is far more modest: he merely wants my operas, and out of the two of you, he would have suffered a greater loss had I not given him "[[Vakula]]". Anyway, it is very possible that it is you who have the advantage now, even without receiving this opera; still, God knows if it will win the prize; God knows if it will make it to the stage; God knows whether it will be sufficiently profitable for a publisher to consider taking it on. But in any case — this is not my last opera, merely the second.

I know that you will be no little disappointed by this letter, and be sure that this is very unpleasant for me. But since I must inevitably incur the displeasure of one or other of my publishers, then I am prepared for this, and I hope that in time you yourself will agree that I could not have done otherwise. I chose the lesser of two evils. I say to you directly that although I am perfectly satisfied with our relations as my publisher, I ''owe'' [[Jurgenson]] far more than you. There have been many cases when he has helped me to the detriment of his own interests. I should very much like that, despite your hostility towards [[Jurgenson]], you would simply accept the fact that in the present circumstances I found myself obliged to give preference to him. I should hope that our friendly relations will remain as before, and that neither our personal nor our business relationships are in the least altered.

I have sent you the [[Six Romances, Op. 25|romances]] together with the proofs. What should I put for the opus? Ought it to be ''25'', or am I mistaken?
{{right|Yours, P. Tchaikovsky}}
P. S. I also wanted to ask you whether you intend to print the full score of my [[Symphony No. 2|second symphony]]?
[[Jurgenson]] has now printed both the full score and piano reduction of the first, and yet is far weaker than the second. This is of great interest to me, and I confess that I will be offended if you do nothing. Besides, I promised [[Stasov]] the original for the Public Library. Do you have a copy?
{{right|P. T.}}
Furthermore, take into account that I have given you the romances for that price, which in accepting I voluntarily deprived myself of a significant amount, for [[Jurgenson]] entirely seriously and firmly offered me twice as much if I would give them all to him.
--------------
I, the undersigned, hereby acknowledge that I have received from [[Vasily Bessel|Vasily Vasilyevich ''Bessel'']] one hundred and fifty (150) silver rubles for sale of my [[Six Romances, Op. 25]].
{{right|Pyotr Tchaikovsky 22 March 1875. [[Moscow]].}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Letter 0396}}