Approximately A5 size, 59 pages Mainz, Germany, Bärenreiter, 1972 Pocket Score — First or very early edition Plate; 379-1343 Tchaikovsky began composing the symphonic poem *Fatum* in late September or early October 1868. [1] He set the work aside to turn his attention to Désirée Artôt, a Belgian touring soprano with whom he had fallen (or thought he had fallen) in love. [citation needed] They discussed marriage and planned to meet again in Paris in the summer of 1869 to make arrangements. She then departed for Warsaw to continue her tour with an opera company. Tchaikovsky completed the outline of the work by October 21/November 2 and finished the scoring in December 1868. [1] Its premiere took place on February 15/27, 1869, at the 8th concert of the Russian Musical Society in Moscow, conducted by Nikolai Rubinstein. Tchaikovsky did not write it with a known program, but for the premiere, a text from Konstantin Batyushkov's poem on the futility of human life was added as an inscription to the score [2]—it is not certain whether this was Tchaikovsky's idea or if he was even familiar with those verses. [1] The audience was perplexed by the mismatch between the melancholic theme of Batyushkov's poem and the bright tenor of the music, but they still applauded the music warmly. On the night of its debut, Tchaikovsky wrote to his brother Anatoly, "It seems to be the best of what I have written so far. At least, that's what people are saying (a considerable success)." [2] Tchaikovsky later sent the score to Mily Balakirev, asking him to accept the dedication of the work. Balakirev accepted and said that he would arrange another performance, regardless of what he thought of the music. [3] *Fatum* was played again on March 17/29 at the 9th concert of the Russian Musical Society in St. Petersburg, conducted by Balakirev. However, the second performance was not as popular as the first had been. Balakirev wrote to Tchaikovsky: Your *Fatum* [in St. Petersburg] was received... with not much applause, but