“DEAR SERGIUS,--I have just received your letter. Good luck and bad always come together; it is proverbial, and I am not surprised to hear of the non-success of my _Francesca_, as just now all my compositions are failures. But your letter suggested an idea to me. Last year Saint-Saëns advised me to give a concert of my own compositions in Paris. He said such a concert would be best given with Colonne’s orchestra at the Châtelet, and would not cost very much.” _S. Taneiev to Tchaikovsky._ “PARIS, _December_ 16_th_ (28_th_), 1876. “Saint-Saëns advises you more strongly than ever to give a concert, in order to produce your _Romeo and Juliet_.... ‘_Cela l’a posé, cette overture_,’ was his remark. You must give your concert in the Salle Herz, with Colonne’s orchestra. All expenses, including two rehearsals, will come to 1,500 francs. Two rehearsals will not be sufficient; we should need at least three. Even then, 2,000 francs would be the maximum expenditure. The orchestra are paid five francs for each rehearsal, and ten for the concert. The most favourable time would be February or March.” _To S. Taneiev._ “MOSCOW, _January_ 29_th_ (_February_ 10_th_), 1877. “DEAR SERGIUS,--My concert will not come off. In spite of gigantic efforts on my part, I cannot raise the necessary funds. “I am in despair. “I can write no more to-day. Forgive me for the trouble I have given you over my unlucky plans. Thank you for your letter.” In spite of the bitterness left by the comparative failure of _Vakoula_, and the many other blows which his artistic ambitions had to suffer, Tchaikovsky, after his return to Moscow, did not lose his self-confidence, nor let his energy flag for a moment. On the contrary, although grieved at the fate of his “favourite offspring, _Vakoula_,” and at his unlucky _début_ as a composer in Vienna and Paris, although suffering from a form of dyspepsia, he was not only interested in the propaganda of his works abroad, but composed his _Variations on a Rococo Theme_ for violoncello, and corresponded with Stassov about an operatic libretto. The choice of the subject--_Othello_--emanated from Tchaikovsky himself. When Stassov tried to persuade him that this subject was not suitable to his temperament, he refused to listen to arguments, and would only consider this particular play. About the middle of September Stassov sent him the rough sketch which he began to study zealously. But it went no further. On January 30th Stassov wrote to him: “Do as you will, but I have not finished _Othello_ yet. Hang me if you please--but it is not my fault.” Tchaikovsky himself had also begun to feel less eager, for he remarks in a letter to Stassov that he is not to trouble about a new subject.