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Lot 99
TCHAIKOVSKY MENTIONS HIS MOSCOW CANTATA. TCHAIKOVSKY, PYOTR ILLYICH. 1840-1893. Autograph Letter Signed ("P. Tchaikovsky") to friend and conductor Theodore Thomas, regarding an upcoming performance and a possible new work,
24 April – 4 May 2023, 12:00 EDT
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TCHAIKOVSKY MENTIONS HIS MOSCOW CANTATA.
TCHAIKOVSKY, PYOTR ILLYICH. 1840-1893. Autograph Letter Signed ("P. Tchaikovsky") to friend and conductor Theodore Thomas, regarding an upcoming performance and a possible new work, in German, 2 pp recto and verso, 8vo (193 x 124 mm), n.p., June 24, 1892, on letterhead of Etablissement Thermal de Vichy, leaf soiled, two holes punched at right margin, partial separation at vertical and horizontal fold, glue remnants to left margin.
Provenance: Collection of J. Sanford Otis (Ostrander Galleries of Chicago label present).
From a thermal spa in Vichy, Tchaikovsky writes to his friend Theodore Thomas (1835-1905), whose conducting career included stints in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago and who conducted the world premiere of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 at a Philharmonic Society concert in New York in 1881.
In this letter Tchaikovsky recommends a work of his for Thomas's orchestra to perform but worries that their (unnamed) preferred soloist is not available. In full: "Dear Mr Thomas! As a choral work I can recommend in particularly my cantata "Moscow." Unfortunately it is not, I believe, translated—but that can be easily done and my friend Jurgensen can do the translation. I can also for the occasion write a new work, but what? A symphonic movement would be easier to do since I don't have a matching text to cantata. However, I am ready, as said before if you wish, to compose a new vocal work. / Thank you very much for the performance of my 5th symphony. / Your most humble / P. Tchaikovsky."
Moscow, a cantata for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, was written in 1883 to celebrate the coronation of Alexander III. It features a solo mezzo-soprano role along with several basses.
The Tchaikovsky Research site locates only one other letter from Tchaikovsky to Thomas, written May 17, 1892 from Klin, declining to accept an appointment for which Thomas had recommended him.
Provenance: Collection of J. Sanford Otis (Ostrander Galleries of Chicago label present).
From a thermal spa in Vichy, Tchaikovsky writes to his friend Theodore Thomas (1835-1905), whose conducting career included stints in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago and who conducted the world premiere of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 2 at a Philharmonic Society concert in New York in 1881.
In this letter Tchaikovsky recommends a work of his for Thomas's orchestra to perform but worries that their (unnamed) preferred soloist is not available. In full: "Dear Mr Thomas! As a choral work I can recommend in particularly my cantata "Moscow." Unfortunately it is not, I believe, translated—but that can be easily done and my friend Jurgensen can do the translation. I can also for the occasion write a new work, but what? A symphonic movement would be easier to do since I don't have a matching text to cantata. However, I am ready, as said before if you wish, to compose a new vocal work. / Thank you very much for the performance of my 5th symphony. / Your most humble / P. Tchaikovsky."
Moscow, a cantata for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, was written in 1883 to celebrate the coronation of Alexander III. It features a solo mezzo-soprano role along with several basses.
The Tchaikovsky Research site locates only one other letter from Tchaikovsky to Thomas, written May 17, 1892 from Klin, declining to accept an appointment for which Thomas had recommended him.