Being no musical critic, it is not for me to say whether, in truth, in all Russian musical literature nothing so remarkable as _Romeo and Juliet_ had appeared since Glinka. I can only repeat what has been said by many musical authorities--that my brother’s higher significance in the world of art dates from this work. His individuality is here displayed for the first time in its fulness, and all that he had hitherto produced seems--as in Laroche’s prophecy--to have been really preparatory work. VII 1870-1871 During this period Tchaikovsky’s spirits were, generally speaking, fairly bright. Only occasionally they were damped by anxiety about the twins, of whom the younger had left the School of Jurisprudence and obtained a post in Simbirsk.[23] His lack of experience led him into many blunders and mistakes, which gave trouble to his elder brother Peter. His affection and over-anxiety caused the latter to exaggerate the importance of these small errors of judgment, and he concerned himself greatly about the future of his precious charge. _To I. A. Klimenko._ “_October_ 26_th_ (_November_ 7_th_), 1870. “ ... Anton Rubinstein is staying here. He opened the season, playing the Schumann Concerto at the first concert (not very well), and also Mendelssohn’s Variations and some Schumann Studies (splendidly). At the Quartet evening he played in his own Trio, which I do not much like. At an orchestral rehearsal, held specially for him, he conducted his new _Don Quixote_ Fantasia. Very interesting; first-rate in places. Besides this he has composed a violin concerto and a number of smaller pieces. Extraordinary fertility! Nicholas Rubinstein lost all his money at roulette during the summer. At the present moment he is working, as usual, with unflagging energy. “I have written three new pieces,[24] and a song,[25] as well as going on with my opera and revising Romeo and Juliet.” _To Anatol Tchaikovsky._ (_About the beginning of November._) “ ... My time is very much occupied. I have foolishly undertaken to write music for a ballet _Cinderella_, at a very small fee. The ballet has to be performed in December, and I have only just begun it; but I cannot get out of the work, for the contract is already signed. _Romeo and Juliet_ will be published in Berlin and performed in several German towns....” _To his sister, A. I. Davidov._ “_December_ 20_th_, 1870 (_January_ 1_st_, 1871).