Tchaikovsky

The greatest and most popular Russian composer, Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, was a man of strong feelings, abudant musical talent, and secret personal sorrow. His chaotic private life encompassed not only the joys and rewards of international fame but also debilitating periods of severe depression.



From his mid-twenties until his untimely and mysterious death at the age of 53, he created compositions of remarkable beauty and melodic richness as his best-loved opera Eugene Onegin, the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the great piano and violin concertos, and his incomparable Sixth Symphony, the Pathétique.



The origins and inspirations for this great music are explained in this lively biography, fully illustrated with contemporary artwork and photographs of the importante people, places, and events of the composer´s life.



You will meet Tchaikovsky´s weathy patroness, Nadezhda von Meck, who supported him both financially and emotionally for many years. Also portrayed are Tchaikovsky´s partner in a disastrous marriage, Antonina Milyukova; the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns; pianist and teacher Nikolai Rubinstein; and Tchaikovsky´s loyal brother, Modest.



This account of the life and work of one of the world´s greatest composers is sure to delight both casual and serious lovers of classical music.