No one else would have said it this way . . ." And thousands of other exclamations of satisfaction and pleasure which we all shared and which finally led to an action which is rare in him in regard to the innumerable worthy composers who daily bring him their works.
You know how little he likes to write letters and how difficult it is for him to express his thoughts on paper, so that, according to his wish, I must often be the more or less responsible interpreter of his thoughts. But this night the flame of his enthusiasm made him forget the presence of his "Mlle. Providence," as he calls me. Without a moment's hesitation and with the impulse of a lion, he dashed to his desk and at one sitting wrote to M. Musorgsky his impressions as he felt them; I myself sent off this letter, and it is with delight that I inform you of its sending . . .38
[The original text of this letter is in French.]
DEAR SIR.
VASILI VASILYEVICH,
The only answer to your letter of the 2nd of this May would be the fulfillment--and of course the prompt fulfillment--on my part, of your desire to have the manuscript of Boris. Here it is--I've been as fast as I was able. As to the terms of publication, I think we can discuss these in a few days, if not this very day; anyhow, what has been verbally agreed between us will remain unaltered when embodied in a document.39
Ever warmly greeting your activity, MUSORGSKY
14 May, '73
____________________-211-
Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: The Musorgsky Reader:A Life of Modeste Petrovich Musorgsky in Letters and Documents.
Contributors: Jay Leyda - Translator, Sergei Bertensson - Translator, Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky - Author.
Publisher: W.W. Norton.
Place of publication: New York.
Publication year: 1947.
Page number: 211.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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