On February 25th (March 9th) the symphonic fantasia _Francesca da Rimini_ was performed for the first time at the tenth symphony concert in Moscow. It had a splendid reception, and was twice repeated during the month of March. In his notice of the concert Kashkin praises not only the music itself, but its inspired interpretation by Nicholas Rubinstein. In the course of this season Tchaikovsky began his Fourth Symphony. Probably the real reason why he lost his interest in the libretto of _Othello_ is to be found in his entire devotion to this work. In March and April he began to suffer again from mental depression. This is evident from many of his letters written at this time. _To I. A. Klimenko._ “_May_ 8_th_ (20_th_). “I am very much changed--especially mentally--since we last met. There is no trace of gaiety and love of fun left in me. Life is terribly empty, wearisome and trivial. I am seriously considering matrimony as a lasting tie. The one thing that remains unaltered is my love of composing. If things were only different, if I were not condemned to run against obstacles at every step--my work at the Conservatoire, for instance, which restricts me more each year--I might accomplish something of value. But alas, I am chained to the Conservatoire!” In the early spring of 1877 Modeste Tchaikovsky sent his brother a libretto based upon Nodier’s novel, _Ines de Las-Sierras_. The musician was not attracted by it; he had already another plan in view. In May he wrote to his brother:-- “Recently I was at Madame Lavrovsky’s.[46] The conversation fell upon opera libretti. X. talked a lot of rubbish, and made the most appalling suggestions. Madame Lavrovsky said nothing and only laughed. Suddenly, however, she remarked: ‘What about _Eugene Oniegin_?’ The idea struck me as curious, and I made no reply. Afterwards, while dining alone at a restaurant, her words came back to me, and, on consideration, the idea did not seem at all ridiculous. I soon made up my mind, and set off at once in search of Poushkin’s works. I had some trouble in finding them. I was enchanted when I read the work. I spent a sleepless night; the result--a sketch of a delicious opera based upon Poushkin’s text. The next day I went to Shilovsky, who is now working post-haste at my sketch.