Date	11/23 August 1893
Addressed to	Ekaterina Laroche
Where written	Klin
Language	English
Autograph Location	Santa Barbara (California, USA): The Karpeles Manuscript Library
Publication	Not previously published
Notes	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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Reproduced by kind permission of The Karpeles Manuscript Library

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English text (original)

Klin 11 August

Dear Mistress Кату!

At 16 October Russian sile [= style] I will conduct the first Concert of the Imperial Russian Music-Society, and in this Concert it will be plaied [= played] the famous ouverture [= overture] of the celebrated musicians [= musician] German Laroche „Carmosina“! [1]

Pray, let me make the Partition [= let me have the score] and so quickly as possible, because I must learn the Partition [= score]. You must writhe [= write] to Mrs Hubert, or your husband must make this business. I will comm [= come] at 21 August.

I kiss your hand!

Peter Tschaikovsky (Doctor) [2]

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Notes:

1. Tchaikovsky conducted Herman Laroche's overture Carmosine [Кармозина] at the first symphony concert of the Russian Musical Society in Saint Petersburg on 16/28 October 1893 (in a programme which also included the premiere of his own Symphony No. 6). Tchaikovsky had also conducted the premiere of the same overture at a concert of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Society on 5/17 November 1888, at which his Symphony No. 5 received its first performance [back]
2. This note, and the humorous attempt to write this letter in English, alludes to the fact that on 1/13 June 1893 Tchaikovsky had received an honorary doctorate of music at Cambridge University in England [back]

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This page was last updated on 04 February 2011