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Pyotr Tchaikovsky

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Pyotr Tchaikovsky · Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 to 1893) was a Russian Romantic composer, and the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression abroad. He trained as a civil servant, because Russia offered few opportunities for a career in music and had no real music education. When the chance arose, he entered the new conservatory in St Petersburg, from which he graduated in 1865. His Western-oriented training set him apart from the nationalist composers of The Five, with whom he had a varying relationship.

Music and breakthrough

Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular concert and theatre music in the classical repertoire: the 1812 Overture, the First Piano Concerto, the Violin Concerto, the fantasy overture Ромео и Джульетта (Romeo and Juliet), several symphonies, the opera Евгений Онегин (Eugene Onegin) and the ballets Лебединое озеро (Swan Lake), Спящая красавица (The Sleeping Beauty) and Щелкунчик (The Nutcracker). His life was marked by crises and depression. His early separation from his mother, her early death, the death of his friend Nikolai Rubinstein, his failed marriage and the end of his thirteen-year bond with his patroness Nadezhda von Meck all played a part. He kept his homosexuality private. He dedicated his Sixth Symphony to his nephew Vladimir Davydov and died suddenly at the age of 53, usually attributed to cholera.

Influence

His music remained beloved by audiences, although critics were at first divided. Tchaikovsky showed that a Russian composer could use Western orchestral music to find an emotional voice of his own. His ballets belong to the standard repertoire.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to a piece from The Nutcracker or Swan Lake and notice how the melody is passed from instrument to instrument. Try to hear when the music turns soft and tender and when it builds.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists