The Piatigorsky Archives holds more than 2,000 notes, letters, and telegrams written to Gregor Piatigorsky in English, French, Russian, German, and Italian. There are letters from composers, some discussing works which were written for and sometimes commissioned by Piatigorsky; some from “unknown” composers pleading with Piatigorsky to perform their works; letters and notes from Piatigorsky’s musical colleagues, many of whom were the most important musicians of the 20th century; letters asking for money or assistance; congratulatory letters, fan letters, and get well messages. A group of letters written by Piatigorsky to his wife, Jacqueline, while on tour, describe the trials of train travel and of orchestras good and bad.
To view more correspondence, visit our database.