Tchaikovsky
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TH 216

Les Caprices de Marianne

Прихоти Марианны

Projected opera (1878).

• An unrealised project dating from August 1878.
• Libretto by Alfred de Musset, after his play of the same name.

History

On 16 August 1878, Tchaikovsky wrote to his brother Modest: "On the subject of reading, I've been going mad on Alfred de Musset. Today I cried out with delight, reading Les caprices de Marianne and, naturally, immediately decided to turn it into an opera. What do you think? I find there is one major shortcoming for the opera; that is, that Cœlio and Marianne never meet or appear together. Really? Nevertheless, it is so delightful! I’ve fallen in love with Cœlio" [1]. Five days later Tchaikovsky still was not sure: "What shall it be?", he asked his brother, "Romeo or Caprices de Marianne? Write to me what you think about the latter" [2]. Modest’s response is unknown, but there are no subsequent references to Les Caprices de Marianne.

From: The Tchaikovsky Handbook, vol. 1 (2002), p. 403
Copyright © 2002 Alexander Poznansky and Brett Langston

Notes:

1. Letter 898 to Modest Tchaikovsky, 16/28 August 1878 [back].
2. Letter 900 to Modest Tchaikovsky, 21 August/2 September 1878.[back].