Finally, on 16/28 July 1867, Rubinstein wrote to Prince Obolensky from

Baden-Baden:
Your Excellency,
I have the honor of informing you and of begging you to inform whomever it is
necessary that I have nally decided to leave the Conservatory and the Russian Music
Society, and also St. Petersburg from 1 September.
When I promised to remain for another year at the end of April it was only with
the purpose of (1) being able to show that in the moral sense the Conservatory is
standing on a rm foundation and on sturdy legs, and (2) because of my promise to
hold on to the professors and students of the Conservatory who wanted to abandon
the Conservatory if I had left it.
As far as the rst point is concerned, the staging of Glucks Orphe has shown fully
that I kept my word and achieved my aim. My second point has also succeeded, and
if you do not make public my intention of leaving the Conservatory before Septem-
ber, when the professors and students again return, the whole matter will sort itself
out without the slightest difculty.
Since my opinion was never heeded by anyone and it was always overturned by the
majority of votes and by the practical views of the committees which are so numerous
in our affairs, then I must desist from offering it now, although, out of love for my
offspring, I would like to give so very much advice for the future.
The constant concerns of the grand duchess, and also the felicitous choice of presi-
dent and other new directors on the Committee of the St. Petersburg Society are a
guarantee that the undertaking may proceed successfully and without my assistance.
With this assurance it only remains for me to beg you to accept the assurance of my
absolute respect with which I have the honor of remaining the humble servant of
your Excellency.
A. G. Rubinstein.131

122 Anton Rubinstein