Tolstoy, Leo. (1828–1910). Rare Signed Autograph Letter. A remarkable unpublished autograph draft of a letter or endorsement regarding a string quartet performance, penned and signed by the Russian writer widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time. One page, in French, with numerous lines crossed out and rewritten. Dated 1900 and signed "Leon Tolstoi." In very fine condition.
"Le quatuor de Mr. ----- qu'ont eu l'extreme obligeance de venire [crossed out] chez nous a la campagne [crossed out] et d'y d'executer [crossed out] avec la plus grande perfection de tous les instruments [crossed out] les splendeurs morceux des anciens maitres et d'executer un des plus grands plaisirs musicaux qu j'ai jamais epreuvé. [crossed out] Je remplie un --- de reconnaissance en --- encore une fois ces messieurs pour le grand plaisir qui m'a --- leur amabilite. Leon Tolstoi. L T. 1900"
["The quartet of Mr. - who had the extreme kindness to come to our home in the country and to play with the greatest perfection on all their instruments the splendid treats of the old masters - was one of the greatest musical pleasures which I've ever been privileged to experience." I am -- the meeting and -- once again these men for the great pleasure which ---'d me with their kindness."]
"Tolstoy had always been sensitive to music. It acted on him like a drug. It unstrung his nerves and made him lose control of his reactions. Sometimes he even grew angry with the artist for destroying his peace of mind. Stephan Behr observed that when his brother-in-law was listening to his favorite melodies, he would suddenly turn 'very pale,' and 'he winced, almost imperceptibly, in a way that seemed to express fear.' ... Tchaikovsky [who first met the author in the winter of 1876] wrote in his diary 'with me, he only wanted to talk music, in which he was very interested at that time. He liked to belittle Beethoven and was skeptical of his genius.' Tchaikovsky asked Rubinstein to arrange a recital for his favorite author at the Conservatory, and was most flattered to see the author of War and Peace shedding tears when the orchestra played the andante of his D Major Quartet." (Henri Troyat, "Tolstoy," p. 354)
"Le quatuor de Mr. ----- qu'ont eu l'extreme obligeance de venire [crossed out] chez nous a la campagne [crossed out] et d'y d'executer [crossed out] avec la plus grande perfection de tous les instruments [crossed out] les splendeurs morceux des anciens maitres et d'executer un des plus grands plaisirs musicaux qu j'ai jamais epreuvé. [crossed out] Je remplie un --- de reconnaissance en --- encore une fois ces messieurs pour le grand plaisir qui m'a --- leur amabilite. Leon Tolstoi. L T. 1900"
["The quartet of Mr. - who had the extreme kindness to come to our home in the country and to play with the greatest perfection on all their instruments the splendid treats of the old masters - was one of the greatest musical pleasures which I've ever been privileged to experience." I am -- the meeting and -- once again these men for the great pleasure which ---'d me with their kindness."]
"Tolstoy had always been sensitive to music. It acted on him like a drug. It unstrung his nerves and made him lose control of his reactions. Sometimes he even grew angry with the artist for destroying his peace of mind. Stephan Behr observed that when his brother-in-law was listening to his favorite melodies, he would suddenly turn 'very pale,' and 'he winced, almost imperceptibly, in a way that seemed to express fear.' ... Tchaikovsky [who first met the author in the winter of 1876] wrote in his diary 'with me, he only wanted to talk music, in which he was very interested at that time. He liked to belittle Beethoven and was skeptical of his genius.' Tchaikovsky asked Rubinstein to arrange a recital for his favorite author at the Conservatory, and was most flattered to see the author of War and Peace shedding tears when the orchestra played the andante of his D Major Quartet." (Henri Troyat, "Tolstoy," p. 354)
Tolstoy, Leo. (1828–1910). Rare Signed Autograph Letter. A remarkable unpublished autograph draft of a letter or endorsement regarding a string quartet performance, penned and signed by the Russian writer widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists of all time. One page, in French, with numerous lines crossed out and rewritten. Dated 1900 and signed "Leon Tolstoi." In very fine condition.
"Le quatuor de Mr. ----- qu'ont eu l'extreme obligeance de venire [crossed out] chez nous a la campagne [crossed out] et d'y d'executer [crossed out] avec la plus grande perfection de tous les instruments [crossed out] les splendeurs morceux des anciens maitres et d'executer un des plus grands plaisirs musicaux qu j'ai jamais epreuvé. [crossed out] Je remplie un --- de reconnaissance en --- encore une fois ces messieurs pour le grand plaisir qui m'a --- leur amabilite. Leon Tolstoi. L T. 1900"
["The quartet of Mr. - who had the extreme kindness to come to our home in the country and to play with the greatest perfection on all their instruments the splendid treats of the old masters - was one of the greatest musical pleasures which I've ever been privileged to experience." I am -- the meeting and -- once again these men for the great pleasure which ---'d me with their kindness."]
"Tolstoy had always been sensitive to music. It acted on him like a drug. It unstrung his nerves and made him lose control of his reactions. Sometimes he even grew angry with the artist for destroying his peace of mind. Stephan Behr observed that when his brother-in-law was listening to his favorite melodies, he would suddenly turn 'very pale,' and 'he winced, almost imperceptibly, in a way that seemed to express fear.' ... Tchaikovsky [who first met the author in the winter of 1876] wrote in his diary 'with me, he only wanted to talk music, in which he was very interested at that time. He liked to belittle Beethoven and was skeptical of his genius.' Tchaikovsky asked Rubinstein to arrange a recital for his favorite author at the Conservatory, and was most flattered to see the author of War and Peace shedding tears when the orchestra played the andante of his D Major Quartet." (Henri Troyat, "Tolstoy," p. 354)
"Le quatuor de Mr. ----- qu'ont eu l'extreme obligeance de venire [crossed out] chez nous a la campagne [crossed out] et d'y d'executer [crossed out] avec la plus grande perfection de tous les instruments [crossed out] les splendeurs morceux des anciens maitres et d'executer un des plus grands plaisirs musicaux qu j'ai jamais epreuvé. [crossed out] Je remplie un --- de reconnaissance en --- encore une fois ces messieurs pour le grand plaisir qui m'a --- leur amabilite. Leon Tolstoi. L T. 1900"
["The quartet of Mr. - who had the extreme kindness to come to our home in the country and to play with the greatest perfection on all their instruments the splendid treats of the old masters - was one of the greatest musical pleasures which I've ever been privileged to experience." I am -- the meeting and -- once again these men for the great pleasure which ---'d me with their kindness."]
"Tolstoy had always been sensitive to music. It acted on him like a drug. It unstrung his nerves and made him lose control of his reactions. Sometimes he even grew angry with the artist for destroying his peace of mind. Stephan Behr observed that when his brother-in-law was listening to his favorite melodies, he would suddenly turn 'very pale,' and 'he winced, almost imperceptibly, in a way that seemed to express fear.' ... Tchaikovsky [who first met the author in the winter of 1876] wrote in his diary 'with me, he only wanted to talk music, in which he was very interested at that time. He liked to belittle Beethoven and was skeptical of his genius.' Tchaikovsky asked Rubinstein to arrange a recital for his favorite author at the Conservatory, and was most flattered to see the author of War and Peace shedding tears when the orchestra played the andante of his D Major Quartet." (Henri Troyat, "Tolstoy," p. 354)