My family was rather strange
the father was a tacitum man who once had been wealthy
but he lost his money and was forced to engage in a variety of minor jobs.
Mother, had an explosive temperament
She was striking across my face only to be kissing me the next moment.
The mother concentrated all her love and all her anger on me.
She had a feeling of who I became one day.
I was only eleven when a letter arrived
I was accepted as a student at the Conservatoire.
Even my grouchy father was impressed.
I remember him saying..
-Well, I guess there is nothing to prevent my son from becoming a great musician.
.. although he hoped that I would become a sailor..
A sailor!
You don't seem to realize that your son is going to be an immortal.
Someday he'll own a yacht of his own.
He'll sail to Côte d'Azur in the company of some lovely lady.
Claude is going to be famous and rich someday
At the Conservatory, my teachers complain about my music
They call my music haunting and discordant
The say that my chords don't exist. But they do exist!
But why can't I write what I feel?
I was seventeen when a became a master of piano, and started looking for a job.
My teachers suggested me as a household pianist at Madamme von Meck's mansion.
Great idea, I thought all summer on the banks of the Loire
and perhaps travels far away, to Switzerland, to Italy..
- And to Russia, too.
Madame is a great admirer of Tchaikovsky.
She talked about him for hours
When I saw her my piano arrangement of the Swan Lake,
Madamme asked his permission to have the arrangement published.
It was a delirious moment.
It was a year to remember..
Just as little Sonia will be unforgettable.
She was fourteen and, as I taught her the piano..
she and her brothers were trying to teach me my first words in Russian...
Bussyk and Petroushka!
I remembered Sonia singing at a gala of her mother..
Our hearts shall be the torches of the shrine,
And their two leaping flames shall fade and blend In the twin mirrors of your soul and mine.
What an old fool I am..
I had the same feelings for Sonya that once I had for Terese,
and then for Jacqueline,
and then for Gabby...
Am I destined to fall in love with every pretty girl that crosses my path..
Our friendship grew into love and we gave our first kiss
and made plans for our marriage..
'You must ask for my hand. But wait until she's in a good mood'
'You know how difficult she can be'
We waited for an opportune moment to declare our intentions.
It was an evening in Green Salon, when I played Barcarolle by Tchaikovsky.
Madame was enchanted by the piece. She kissed me on my forehead declaring..
-You are such a talented pianist, my Bussyk!
Blushing to the roots of my head I burst forth in a resolute voice
'Madame, Sonia and I love one another'
- We would like to get married. Give us your blessings.
- You must be joking Monsieur.
What right have you to think that I may allow such misalliance?
- What right? there is no better right of our love for one another!
- It will never happen. Sonia is only sixteen and she will marry someone..
whom I will choose for her.
- But she loves me!
- Sonia will forget you in a week.
You'll be paid fully for the whole summer, but you'll leave for the railway station at once.
Adieu Monsieur.
The secretary escorted me to the station, and sent my luggage at the train..
such a humiliation..
They will never permit a penniless musician to worm his way into the heart of a heiress!
Sonia soon forgot me.
Within a year she was married to a wealthy man, and moved to her mansion.
She kept the piano I choose for her, the piano I taught her.
But Sonia hardly ever played that piano any more.
She never sung anymore.
I wondered if she ever thought of me.
As my fame grew and my name became famous.
Did Sonya regret that she did not follow her first love?
I never knew..
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