TchaikovskyBio

Peter Tchaikovsky is a composer who is probably best known in the ballet arena. His most famous ballet, The Nutcracker Suite is still one of the most popular ballets performed today. It has survived into the world of technology and is featured, annually, on television as a Christmas Holiday special as well as given live performances throughout the world.

As a composer, Tchaikovsky developed slowly. He did not begin to study music seriously until he was 21 years of age. As a young child his interests went toward reading French and German and writing poetic verse. His schooling did not include music study although he briefly had piano lessons at age 7. In 1859, at age 19, Tchaikovsky graduated from the school of Jurisprudence. He began work at the Ministry of Justice as a clerk. In 1861 he began music study with Nicolai Zimba, then entered the St. Petersburg conservatory when Zimba enrolled there. In 1863 Tchaikovsky quit his job at the ministry and devoted his life to music. He developed his skills as a conductor as well as a composer and was later in constant demand to conduct; especially his own works. After graduating from the conservatory, Tchaikovsky led a quiet life of teaching and composing. That changed in 1877 when Tchaikovsky tried marriage. He discovered his homosexuality. In panic over his fate, Tchaikovsky attempted suicide by immersing himself in a river. He caught a colossal cold, but survived due to his brother's rescue. Tchaikovsky divorced, but continued to support his ex-wife for the rest of her life. He struck up another long-term relationship with a woman through letter correspondence. She was a wealthy widow who adored Tchaikovsky's music. She offered to subsidize his work as a composer. Their correspondence lasted years and provided volumes of information about Tchaikovsky's work and his way of thinking. They never actually met face-to-face; except for a brief moment in passing each other in public. The widow, Madame von Maeck, preferred to know Tchaikovsky through his letters. She fell in love with his thinking and ideas, and was afraid of being disappointed if she ever knew him in person.