PETER ILLYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840 - 1893) Russian composer of symphonies and operas, including "The Nutcarcker", "Swan Lake", and the "1812 Overture". TO A FELLOW COMPOSER ON "THE ENCHATRESS" Fine content A.L.S. "P. Tchaikovsky" in Russian on both sides of his 5" x 3 1/2" monogrammed correspondence card, Petrograd, Feb. 15, 1887 to Czech composer Eduard Napravnik (1839-1916), known in Russia as "Edouard Frantsevich". In part: "...I will come monday morning the 23rd and bring 'The Enchantress' with me. Where should the notes be delivered: to you, or directly to the theater? Write a word in response. I am not writing anything because we will see each other soon...". Fine, with holograph envelope, no. 54 in the series of letters between the two composers. Five of Tchaikovsky's operas were premiered under N‡pravn’k's direction at the Mariinsky Theatre: The Oprichnik (1874), Vakula the Smith (1876), The Maid of Orleans (1881), The Queen of Spades (1890) and Iolanta (1892). The Maid of Orleans was dedicated to N‡pravn’k, who also gave the first performances of many of the conductor's other works in the Russian Musical Society concerts in Saint Petersburg, where he was principal conductor from 1869 to 1881. "The Enchantress" was the longest opera Tchaikovsky ever wrote. The premiere was given on 1 November 1887 at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg conducted by the composer.