Autograph letter signed ('A. Scriabin') to Nikolai Gustavovich [von Struve], n.p., [before 12 January 1911]

Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (1872-1915)
Autograph letter signed ('A. Scriabin') to Nikolai Gustavovich [von Struve], n.p., [before 12 January 1911]
In Russian. Two pages, 115 x 88mm, date of receipt noted in red pencil. Provenance: Sotheby's, 22 May 1987, lot 638.

On publication of his tone poem, Prometheus, op.60. Scriabin writes to inform Struve that he has sent him the last set of corrected proofs, discussing corrections which are to be made to the instrumental parts, and whether they will be made by the printer – if so, he insists that an experienced man should be chosen; he also gives his opinion on the wrappers for the printed edition which are to have a design by the Symbolist artist Jean Delville, requesting that Delville's name should be given due prominence, and finally that the instrumentation should also be printed in German.

Although Prometheus is not named in the text, it is clearly the work under discussion: it had been first performed in Moscow on 2 March that year under the baton of Serge Koussevitzky. Baron Nikolai von Struve (1876-1920) was the director of the music publishers Russian Musical Editions (founded by Koussevitzky) which published the work, with its striking cover by Delville, in 1912.