“Do you know what I am preoccupied with at present? When I was sitting alone one evening at Kiev, while my sister and Modeste had gone to the theatre to see Rossi in _Romeo and Juliet_, I read the play through once more. Immediately I was possessed with the idea of composing an opera on the subject. The existing operas of Bellini and Gounod do not frighten me. In both of them Shakespeare is mutilated and distorted until he is hardly recognisable. Do you not think that this great work of the arch-genius is well adapted to inspire a musician? I have already talked it over with Modeste; but he shrank from the magnitude of the task. Nothing venture, nothing have. I shall think over the plan of this opera and throw all my energies into the work for which I am reserving them.” _To Modeste Tchaikovsky._ “BRAILOV, _May_ 25_th_ (_June_ 6_th_), 1878. “Modi, ever since I re-read _Romeo and Juliet_, _Undine_, _Berthalde_, _Gulbrand_, and the rest seem to me a pack of childish nonsense. Of course, I shall compose an opera on _Romeo and Juliet_. All your objections will vanish before the vast enthusiasm which possesses me. It shall be my finest work. It seems absurd that I have only just found out that fate has to some extent ordained me for this task. Nothing could be better suited to my musical temperament. No kings, no marches--in a word, none of the usual accessories of Grand Opera. Nothing but love, love, love. And then how delightful are the minor characters: Friar Lawrence, Tybalt, Mercutio! You need not be afraid of monotony. The first love duet will be very different from the second. In the first, brightness and serenity; in the second, a tragic element. From children, happily and carelessly in love, Romeo and Juliet have become passionate and suffering beings, placed in a tragic and inextricable dilemma. How I long to get to work on it!” _To Modeste Tchaikovsky._ “BRAILOV, _May_ 27_th_ (_June_ 8_th_), 1878. “Yesterday I played the whole of _Eugene Oniegin_, from beginning to end. The author was the sole listener. I am half ashamed of what I am going to confide to you in secret: the listener was moved to tears, and paid the composer a thousand compliments. If only the audiences of the future will feel towards this music as the composer himself does!” _To N. F. von Meck._ “BRAILOV, _May_ 29_th_ (_June_ 10_th_), 1878.