Berlin
W. Kurfürstendamm 28
May 1st 1902
Dear Mrs. Gibansky
Your dear child tells me that she will have to return home this summer according to
your wishes.
As I take a real interest in your daughter, I think it my duty to tell you quite
frankly what I think about her and her studies.
Your dear child is really
talented and through some mistake or other, did not
have the good fortune to be helped in her music, as she should have been.
As a consequence, she has not been able to do herself justice and develop the talent
which she possesses. The child has been very much discouraged through not having had
the interest shown her, which she really deserves, and, with her clean head, she knew
that she was not doing the work which she needed, even though she worked hard and
faithfully. Since the last few months, she has begun to improve very much and it is
my firm conviction, that, if she is given the necessary time to work, she will make a
very fine pianist.
It would be, therefore, the greatest pity in the world, to make her interrupt her
work just now, when she is doing so
well and I advise you strongly, to do all in your
power, to keep her here, at least another year.
Julia tells me that it would be a great financial sacrifice on your part and that
therefore she cannot and will not ask this of you. This is the reason why I have
taken it upon myself to write you these lines as, I feel certain that, as long as you
have already done so much to help her in her career, you would rather sacrifice a
little more to see her reach her object and get yourself some compensation for the
sacrifices made on her behalf.
As far as I am concerned, I have told the dear girl that I would wait until she began
to earn herself for the payment of her lessons with me. In this manner, part of the
financial consideration would be made lighter.
With kind regard, I remain yours sincerely
Teresa Carreño