Books and Manuscripts

Zurich: Villa Senar, July 9, 1934. One sheet, 10 1/2 x 7 15/16 in. (267 x 201 mm). Typed letter, in Cyrillic in Russian language, on Villa Senar stationery, signed by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), to Russian writer and historian Alexander Amfiteatrov. Creasing from original folds.

"Dear Aleksandr Valentinovich,

It has been several days, more than a week perhaps, since your letter and manuscript arrived. But I still have not looked at it and I’ve been delayed in my response. I am now in a phase of work when any kind of side projects are unthinkable to me. Letter-writing is akin to forced labor for me. So pardon me and don’t be cross.

For thinking of me and for sending the manuscript I am heartfully thankful. I do not doubt that you have mastered the plot wonderfully; I do doubt, however, that I would ever use it. It is difficult for me to surmount such a task at this moment.

As for the plot itself, I am remembering that Tchaikovsky once attempted it but limited his work to just one symphonic tableau. It is clear that not the entire plot begs to be set to music, but only select scenes. After reading, I will write to you.

I find it necessary to add that you are free to give the plot to someone else to whom it would be of interest. Thanks to your wife for her pristine copy work, and to you I send my most heartfelt greetings.

S. Rachmaninov."

The above letter was written six days after Rachmaninoff began composing one of his most famous works, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, and was in response to a letter and libretto sent to him by Amfiteatrov. "While composing the Paganini Rhapsody, Rachmaninoff was sent a three-act libretto based on Shakespeare's Tempest, by the writer Alexander Amfiteatrov (1862-1938). The libretto, dated 5 May 1934-10 June 1934, was found posthumously among Rachmaninoff's papers and now resides in the Library of Congress. As the only two letters of Rachmaninoff to Amfiteatrov known to be extant are in private hands and unpublished, it has not been possible to verify whether or not the libretto was made at the composer's request, though one of the letters, dated only a month after the libretto was completed, must surely refer to it." (Barrie Martyn, Rachmaninoff: Composer, Pianist, Conductor, 2017, p. 203). The above letter is one of the two privately held letters referred to by Martyn (the other being dated September 13, 1927) and appears to answer her question regarding whether Rachmaninoff requested the libretto from Amfiteatrov, which apparently he did not.

Translation courtesy of Dr. Yakov Kasman, University of Alabama at Birmingham.