10 interesting facts about Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Name P.I. Tchaikovsky is familiar to every Russian person, and his works are known not only in his native country, but far, far beyond its borders. Not only famous, but also dearly loved. He lived and worked at the end of the 19th century, in a wonderful time, which was marked by the flourishing of the cultural and scientific life of the Russian Empire.

Discoveries were made by great scientists, the secrets of nature and the universe were revealed, great creators created their works. Once in fertile ground, the talent of Pyotr Ilyich could not help but develop to its full potential.

He was born on April 25, 1840 in the Vyatka province. At the age of five, little Peter already played the piano well, but real art education began only in St. Petersburg, in the Schmelling boarding house.

As a legacy, Tchaikovsky left amazing works full of romanticism and psychological research on the topic of human relationships and souls. We have collected the 10 most interesting facts about Tchaikovsky, which will help you look at this outstanding person from different angles and at least understand a little who he really was. Biography and stories from the life of the great composer who influenced world culture.

10 He took up music seriously at the age of 21.

For the first time, little Peter was led to the piano, most likely, by his mother, Alexandra Andreevna, and later a serf, who had learned musical literacy, studied with him. Music has always been loved in the Tchaikovsky family, it sounded almost daily in their estate, musical evenings were often arranged.

But it was decided to identify Peter at the Imperial School of Law, after which he worked for some time by profession.

By the age of 21, he was still fond of music and was already considered a talented performer and improviser.. It was at this age that Tchaikovsky decided to enter the conservatory and devote himself to the service of music.

9. Graduated 5 years after graduation

Pert Ilyich graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1865. His graduation work was the cantata “To Joy”, which did not make any impression on the commission. It was said that Tchaikovsky was mediocre, more was expected of him, and he failed to go beyond tradition.

The newly-minted musician received a diploma only five years later., in 1870, after the approval of the regulations on the conservatory. Tchaikovsky received a diploma of completion of an educational institution with a silver medal.

8. Tolstoy burst into tears while listening to Tchaikovsky’s music

Meeting P.I. Tchaikovsky with L.N. Tolstoy took place in 1876. N.G. Rubinstein organized a musical reception in honor of the writer, who loved music with all his heart and played the piano well himself. That evening, among others, he played Tchaikovsky, who later recalled that during his performance, Lev Nikolaevich “burst into tears».

Later, Tolstoy wrote to the composer that the evening at the Moscow Conservatory was the most expensive gift and the most expensive recognition of his merits. Tchaikovsky carried through his whole life love for the genius of Lev Nikolaevich and sincere admiration for him.

7. Was a fan of Mozart

Pyotr Ilyich loved Mozart as one loves a loved one. He admitted that not every work of the great composer was perfect, he understood the strengths and weaknesses, but this did not in the least interfere with his selfless love.

He believed that Mozart adopted the best from Bach, Gluck, Haydn and Handel, did not allow them to disappear into oblivion, combined all the best from these creators.

Together with sincere love, Tchaikovsky published quite devastating articles, which combined the worship of Mozart’s work and his sharp criticism..

6. Destroyed the operas “Ondine” and “Voevoda”

The opera Ondine is based on the favorite work of the Tchaikovsky family, which was written by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquet. It was written in the shortest possible time, since the composer was promised that if it was ready, it would be staged in the same 1869.

But in 1870 the score was rejected by a board of conductors, and the upset composer took it away and, by his own admission, destroyed the manuscript of Ondine.

5. The legendary “Swan Lake” was initially underestimated

Swan Lake was first presented in 1877, and since then the entire world’s choreography has been connected in one way or another with this ballet. It is hard to imagine, few people at the time of the premiere could have foreseen that the dance performance would be such a success.

To a large extent initially bad reputation thanks to the choreographer Reisinger, the author of a very mediocre production. “Swan Lake” literally failed, and it would have remained forgotten if in 1895 it had not been decided to revise the production in memory of Tchaikovsky, who had died by that time..

Petersburg choreographers revised the plot and philosophy, a duet of Odette and Siegfried and the famous dance of little swans appeared. The performance was a success, and it was this version that became the basis for all subsequent productions, versions and rethinking.

4. The home library was amazing

P.I. Tchaikovsky amassed a huge library in his lifetime. The collection was formed throughout almost the entire life of the composer.. It contains not only works of art, but also works on literature, philosophy, natural sciences, history, critical articles, as well as a large selection of periodicals.

The home library reflects the interests of Tchaikovsky, his movement of the soul, the spiritual search of the composer, the change in his orientation and attitude.

Today, most of the library has been preserved in the Klin house and is a single complex, a single exhibit and a good base for studying the personality and life of the composer.

3. Chekhov dedicated a collection of short stories “Gloomy People” to the composer

“Gloomy people” – a collection of stories by A.P. Chekhov, which was released in 1890. According to the author himself, his works in this book are boring, gloomy and tedious, like autumn itself, but in a letter to P.I. He asked the composer to allow Tchaikovsky, in spite of everything, to dedicate The Gloomy People to him as a sign of special respect.. Tchaikovsky personally visited Chekhov to thank him for his flattering desire to make such a dedication.

2. Love for Desiree Artaud

Few women left a mark on the fate of Peter Ilyich. Someone says that it’s about his genius and extraordinary passion for music, others that it’s about non-traditional orientation. Be that as it may, one of these ladies was Desiree Artaud. She was an opera singer originally from Belgium. She met Tchaikovsky in 1868 during her tour. The composer was amazed by her talent, popularity and brightness of her personality.

Their feelings turned out to be mutual, and the relationship, albeit purely platonic, developed so quickly that Pyotr Ilyich was seriously determined to marry Artaud. At first, the singer’s mother prevented him, but when relations with a potential mother-in-law were established, and the issue of the wedding was almost resolved, Desiree married another.

Undoubtedly, Pyotr Ilyich experienced the betrayal of the opera diva hard, but he did not show much of a look and walked calm and imperturbable.

1. He wrote 10 operas, 3 ballets, 7 symphonies and 104 romances

P.I. Tchaikovsky left behind a legacy, the significance of which is difficult to overestimate. During his life, he became the author of ten operas, three ballets, seven symphonies and more than a hundred romances, as well as concertos, piano miniatures and entire instrumental cycles..

His work is represented by different forms and genres of musical works. Along with his contemporaries from The Mighty Handful, Tchaikovsky made a great contribution both to the development of music and cultural life in the Russian Empire, and in general to the world cultural fund.

He remains one of the most famous, talented and significant composers in history, one of the best representatives of romanticism in music.