Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is a great Russian composer whose work has become an integral part of the world's musical heritage and has given the world such masterpieces as the ballets "Swan Lake", "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker".

Childhood and youth

Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840 in Votkinsk (Vyatka province) into a noble family. His father, Ilya Petrovich, was a mining engineer and director of a local factory, and his mother, Alexandra Andreevna, was a pianist. There were six children in the family, Peter was one of them.

From an early age, the boy showed interest in music. At first, he learned to play the piano, and later took lessons from the former serf Maria Palchikova. In 1848, the family moved first to Moscow and then to St. Petersburg. There, Peter was sent to the Imperial College of Law — his parents wanted him to get a law degree. At the same time, music did not leave him: he studied in the choir, often attended performances at the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters. In college, he became friends with the poet Alexei Apukhtin — they had a strong lifelong friendship.

In 1854, the composer's mother died of cholera, which was a severe blow to him.

The Path to Music

In 1859, Tchaikovsky graduated from the College of Law and received the rank of titular adviser. He joined the Ministry of Justice, but music still occupied an important place in his life.

In 1861, he began studying in the Music classes of the Russian Musical Society, which in 1862 were transformed into the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Among his teachers were Nikolai Zaremba (composition theory) and Anton Rubinstein (instrumentation). In 1865, he graduated from the Conservatory with honors. His graduation composition, the ode "To Joy" to the words of Schiller, was received with restraint by the public, but music critic V. V. Laroche saw great potential in it.

In 1866, Nikolai Rubinstein invited Tchaikovsky to teach at the newly opened Moscow Conservatory. The composer laid the foundations of the pedagogical tradition of the university, created a textbook of harmony and translated textbooks. He later quit teaching due to health problems.

The creative path

Tchaikovsky's work is incredibly diverse. He worked in almost all genres: symphonies, operas, ballets, concerts, romances, chamber music.

Symphonies. He created several symphonies, among which the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth ("Pathetic"), the composer's last work, are especially famous.
Ballets. Tchaikovsky made a real breakthrough: he transformed ballet music from a simple dance accompaniment into a full-fledged dramatic work. His "big three" ballet — "Swan Lake" (1876), ""Sleeping Beauty" (1889) and "The Nutcracker" (1892) — became classics.
Operas. "Eugene" "Eugene"Onegin" (lyrical scenes based on Pushkin, 1878), "The Queen of Spades" (1890) and "Iolanthe" (1891) are among his operatic masterpieces.
Other writings. He wrote "Romeo and Juliet" fantasy overture (based on Shakespeare), "Francesca da Rimini" symphonic fantasy (based on Dante), a cycle of piano pieces "The Four Seasons" and many romances.
In 1880, for the solemn overture "1812" (in memory of the victory over Napoleon), the composer received the Order of St. Vladimir IV degree from the Russian government. In 1885, he became a member of the board of directors of the Russian Musical Society and headed its Moscow branch. Since 1885, Tchaikovsky lived permanently in the Moscow region — in the vicinity of Klin (Maidanovo, Frolovskoye), and since 1892 he rented a house in the Klin itself. He also toured extensively: he performed in Europe (Germany, Czech Republic, France, England), and in 1891 gave concerts in the USA, including at the opening of Carnegie Hall in New York.

Personal life

There were many dramatic moments in the composer's personal life. He was deeply affected by loss and personal drama, and these experiences were reflected in his music. In 1868, he met the French singer Desiree Artaud — a deep affection arose between them, an engagement took place, but the marriage did not take place due to the opposition of the Artaud family.

In 1877, Tchaikovsky married Antonina Milyukova, a student at the Moscow Conservatory. The marriage turned out to be short-lived: the couple quickly realized that they were not suitable for each other, and soon separated. They failed to officially divorce, and Tchaikovsky remained formally married until the end of his life, although he practically did not communicate with his wife.

A special place in the composer's life was occupied by correspondence with Nadezhda von Meck, a patron of the arts and a great admirer of his work. Their 14-year correspondence (more than 1,200 letters) became an important source for studying his views and creative pursuits. At the same time, they never met — that was the condition of their communication.

The last days and death

At the end of October 1893, a cholera epidemic began in St. Petersburg. Tchaikovsky became infected and died on October 25 (November 6), 1893, in his brother Modest's apartment on Malaya Morskaya Street. The funeral was held with great honor: Emperor Alexander III took over the expenses, and the funeral service was held in the Kazan Cathedral.

After the composer's death, Modest's younger brother created his first extensive biography, while trying to hide some details that could cast a shadow on Pyotr Ilyich's reputation.