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Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich

TCHAIKOVSKY, PYOTR IL'YICH (1840 - 1893)

Tchaikovsky was one of the earlier students of the St. Petersburg Conservatory established by Anton Rubinstein, completing his studies there to become a member of the teaching staff at the similar institution established in Moscow by Anton Rubinstein's brother Nikolay. He was able to withdraw from teaching when a rich widow, Nadezhda von Meck, offered him financial support which continued for much of his life, although, according to the original conditions of the pension, they never met. Tchaikovsky was a man of neurotic diffidence, his self-doubt increased by his homosexuality. His music is thoroughly Russian in character, but, although he was influenced by Balakirev and the ideals of the Five Russian nationalist composers, he may be seen as belonging rather to the more international school of composition fostered by the Conservatories that Balakirev so much deplored.

Operas

Two above all of Tchaikovsky's operas have retained a place in international repertoire. Eugene Onegin, based on a work by Pushkin, was written in 1877, the year of the composer's disastrous and brief attempt at marriage. He returned to Pushkin in 1890 with his powerful opera The Queen of Spades.

Ballets

Tchaikovsky, a master of the miniature forms necessary for ballet, succeeded in raising the quality of the music provided for an art that had undergone considerable technical development in 19th century Russia under the guidance of the French choreographer Marius Petipa. The first of Tchaikovsky's full length ballet-scores was Swan Lake, completed in 1876, followed in 1889 by The Sleeping Beauty. His last ballet, based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, was Nutcracker, first staged in St. Petersburg in December 1892.

Orchestral Music

Tchaikovsky wrote six symphonies. The first of these, sometimes known as Winter Daydreams, was completed in its first version in 1866 but later revised. The second of the symphonies, the so- called Little Russian was composed in 1872 but revised eight years later. Of the other symphonies the fifth, with its motto theme and waltz movement in the place of a scherzo was written in 1888, while the last completed symphony, known as the "Path�tique", was first performed under Tchaikovsky's direction shortly before his death in 1893.

Fantasy Overtures and other works

Tchaikovsky turned to literary and dramatic sources for a number of orchestral compositions. His first Fantasy Overture after Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, was written 1869 and later twice revised. Bunya is a symphonic fantasia inspired by The Tempest and the last of the Shakespearean fantasy overtures, Hamlet, was written in 1888. Francesca da Rimini translates into musical terms the illicit love of Francesca and Paolo, as recounted in Dante's Inferno and Manfred, written in 1885, draws inspiration from the poem of that name by Byron. The Voyevoda is described as a symphonic ballad and is based on a poem by Mickiewicz. Other, smaller scale orchestral compositions include the Serenade for strings, the popular Italian Capriccio, and rather less well known, four orchestral suites. Tchaikovsky thought little of his 1812 Overture, with its patriotic celebration of victory against Napoleon seventy years before, while Marche Slave had a topical patriotic purpose. Souvenir de Florence, originally for string sextet, was completed in 1892 in its final version.

Concertos

The first of Tchaikovsky's three piano concertos has become the most generally popular of all romantic piano concertos. The second concerto is less well known, while the third, started in 1893, consists of a single movement Allegro de concert. Tchaikovsky's single Violin Concerto, rejected as being too difficult by the leading violinist in Russia, Leopold Auer, later found a firm place in repertoire. For solo cello Tchaikovsky wrote the Rococo Variations and the Pezzo capriccioso. Shorter pieces for violin and orchestra include the S�r�nade m�lancholique and the Valse-scherzo. Souvenir d'un lieu cher, written as an expression of gratitude for hospitality to Madame von Meck, was originally for violin and piano.

Chamber Music

Tchaikovsky's chamber music includes three string quartets. The slow movement of the first of these has proved very popular both in its original form and in an arrangement by the composer for cello and string orchestra. The Andante fun�bre of the third quartet also exists in an arrangement by the composer for violin and piano.

Piano Music

Tchaikovsky provided a quantity of music for the piano, particularly in the form of shorter pieces suited to the lucrative amateur market. Collections of pieces published by the composer include The Seasons, a set of twelve pieces, one for each month, and a number of sets of pieces of varying degrees of difficulty.

Vocal Music

Tchaikovsky wrote a considerable quantity of songs and duets, including settings of Goethe's Mignon songs as well as of verses by a number of his contemporaries.

Discography
Image	Title	Price	Release Date	Label
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: String Quartets (Borodin String Quartet) (NTSC)	~~$24.99~~ $19.99	Nov 18, 2008	EuroArts DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY CYCLE (The) (6 DVD Box Set) (NTSC)	~~$69.99~~ $55.99	Nov 18, 2008	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Nutcracker (The) (San Francisco Ballet, 2007) (NTSC)	~~$29.99~~ $23.99	Nov 18, 2008	Opus Arte DVD
	Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, Op. 58 / The Snow Maiden (suite)	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Oct 28, 2008	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Seasons (The) / Piano Sonata in C sharp minor (Rashkovsky)	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Oct 28, 2008	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.: Hamlet / Romeo and Juliet (Russian National Orchestra, V. Jurowski)	~~$19.99~~ $15.99	Oct 28, 2008	Pentatone Music
	Piano Recital: Stott, Kathryn - SHOSTAKOVICH, D. / GINASTERA, A. / BARTOK, B. / DVORAK, A. / TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / SIBELIUS, J. (Dance)	~~$18.99~~ $15.19	Oct 28, 2008	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.: Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50 (G. Shaham, T. Mork, Y. Bronfman)	$12.99	Aug 26, 2008	Canary Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.: Sleeping Beauty (The) (Royal Ballet, 2006) (NTSC)	$29.99	Aug 26, 2008	Opus Arte DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.: Swan Lake (Paris Opera Ballet, 2005) (Blu-ray, NTSC)	~~$39.99~~ $31.99	Jul 29, 2008	Opus Arte DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Songs, Vol. 5	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Mar 25, 2008	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Ballet Suites (Transcriptions for Piano 4 Hands)	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jan 29, 2008	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Songs, Vol. 4	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Dec 11, 2007	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 / Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky Cycle, Vol. 6) (NTSC)	$24.99	Nov 20, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 / Piano Concerto No. 2 (Tchaikovsky Cycle, Vol. 5) (NTSC)	$19.99	Oct 30, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 / Violin Concerto (Tchaikovsky Cycle, Vol. 4) (NTSC)	$19.99	Oct 30, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	CHEN, Gang / HE, Zhanhao: Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (The) / TCHAIKOVSKY, P.: Violin Concerto (G. Shaham, Shui Lan)	$16.99	Oct 30, 2007	Canary Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Pique Dame (Paris Opera National, 2005) (NTSC)	$34.99	Sep 25, 2007	TDK DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 3 / Swan Lake (excerpts) (Tchaikovsky Cycle, Vol. 3) (NTSC)	$19.99	Sep 25, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 2 / Eugene Onegin (excerpts) (Tchaikovsky Cycle, Vol. 2) (NTSC)	$19.99	Jul 31, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	PROKOFIEV / TCHAIKOVSKY: Ballets (Bolshoi Ballet, 1989) (NTSC)	$69.99	Jun 26, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 1 / Rococo Variations (Tchaikovsky Cycle, Vol. 1) (NTSC)	$19.99	Jun 26, 2007	Arthaus Dvd
	DAVIDOFF: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / TCHAIKOVSKY: Variations on a Rococo Theme	~~$16.99~~ $12.99	Mar 27, 2007	Cpo
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Concert Fantasy	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Mar 27, 2007	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto / Souvenir d'un lieu cher	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Feb 27, 2007	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker (The)	$29.99	Jan 30, 2007	Pentatone Music
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique" (Russian National Orchestra, Spikakov)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2007	Delos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto / Souvenir d'un lieu cher / Serenade melancolique / Valse - Scherzo	$19.99	Nov 21, 2006	Pentatone Music
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto / Romeo and Juliet / MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (NTSC)	$24.99	Sep 26, 2006	EuroArts DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY / BALAKIREV / GLAZUNOV: Arrangements for 2 Pianos 8 Hands	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jun 20, 2006	Naxos Limited Edition
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto / MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 5	$16.99	Mar 21, 2006	Profil
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Vocal Works	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Mar 21, 2006	Naxos Orchestral
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 3 in G major / STRAVINSKY: Divertimento	$19.99	Jan 17, 2006	Pentatone Music
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I.: Vocal Duets (Domashenko, Guryakova)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2006	Delos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: THE NUTCRACKER (NTSC)	$19.99	Oct 18, 2005	Arthaus Dvd
	The Very Best of Tchaikovsky	$12.99	Oct 18, 2005	Naxos Best Of...
	TCHAIKOVSKY: SWAN LAKE (NTSC)	$29.99	Sep 20, 2005	TDK DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Sleeping Beauty (NTSC)	$19.99	Aug 16, 2005	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto / Serenade for Strings	$16.99	Jul 19, 2005	Profil
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto in D major / Piano Concerto in B flat minor	$19.99	Jun 1, 2005	Pentatone Music
	DVORAK: New World Symphony / TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet	$19.99	Jun 1, 2005	Pentatone Music
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for Strings / Souvenir de Florence	$19.99	Jun 1, 2005	Pentatone Music
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (NTSC)	$19.99	Jan 18, 2005	Arthaus Dvd
	TCHAIKOVSKY: The Sleeping Beauty (NTSC)	$39.99	Nov 16, 2004	Opus Arte DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Suite No. 4	$11.99	Sep 1, 2004	Chandos
	CHILL WITH TCHAIKOVSKY	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jul 1, 2004	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake	$29.99	May 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3	$14.99	May 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (Highlights)	~~$14.99~~ $9.99	May 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	May 1, 2004	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3	$14.99	May 1, 2004	Naxos Dvd Audio
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy Overture / DVORAK: Carnival Overture	$11.99	Mar 1, 2004	Chandos
	SHOSTAKOVICH / TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Trios	$16.99	Feb 1, 2004	ATMA Classique
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Festival Overture on the Danish National Hymn / Hamlet	$11.99	Aug 1, 2003	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture / Romeo and Juliet / Capriccio Italien	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jul 1, 2003	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: The Seasons (Violin and Orchestra)	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Mar 1, 2003	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (Complete Ballet) (Yablonsky)	$17.99	Jan 1, 2003	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake (NTSC)	$29.99	Jan 1, 2003	Opus Arte DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 2 / Serenade for Nikolai Rubinstein's name-day / Mazeppa (excerpts)	$11.99	Jan 1, 2003	Chandos
	Orchestral Music - BOCCHERINI, L. / SARASATE, P. / TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / VIVALDI, A. / BACH, J.S. (Stars of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2003	Delos
	Life and Works: TCHAIKOVSKY (Siepmann)	$35.99	Jul 1, 2002	Naxos Educational
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 / Romeo and Juliet	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jul 1, 2002	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: None but the Lonely Heart	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Nov 1, 2001	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: The Nutcracker (NTSC)	$29.99	Nov 1, 2001	Opus Arte DVD
	TCHAIKOVSKY: The Seasons	$9.99	Oct 1, 2001	Marco Polo
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Christmas Eve	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jul 1, 2001	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Songs, Vol. 3	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	May 1, 2001	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY / PROKOFIEV: Piano Concertos	$14.99	May 1, 2001	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Eugene Onegin (Sung in English)	~~$29.99~~ $23.99	Mar 1, 2001	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker (NTSC)	$29.99	Feb 1, 2001	Arthaus Dvd
	Orchestral Music - GRIEG, E. / TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / SINISALO, H.-R. / KOMITAS, V. (Showpieces and Encores) (Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orberlian)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2001	Delos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Music, Vol. 2	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Oct 11, 2000	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Complete String Quartets / Souvenir de Florence	$29.99	Oct 1, 2000	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: String Quartets, Vol. 2	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Sep 1, 2000	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: String Quartets, Vol. 1	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	May 17, 2000	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Songs, Vol. 2	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Mar 1, 2000	Naxos Classics
	Chamber Music (Russian) - SHALOV, A. / ALESKEROV, Y. / TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / TAMARIN, J. / MUNIER, C. / RAMEAU, J.-P. (Style of Five)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2000	Delos
	TCHAIKOVSKY, P.: Serenade in C major / The Seasons (arr. A. Gauk) (Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian)	$16.99	Jan 1, 2000	Delos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Songs, Vol. 1	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jul 1, 1999	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Souvenir de Florence (arr. for string orchestra) / STRAUSS, R.: Metamorphosen	$18.99	Apr 1, 1999	Chandos
	Orchestral Music (Russian) - TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / GLIERE, R. / SCRIABIN, A. / SHOSTAKOVICH, D. / GEDIKE, A.F. (Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Orbelian)	$16.99	Jan 1, 1999	Delos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Suites (Complete)	$29.99	Oct 1, 1998	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 41	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jun 16, 1998	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: The Snow Maiden, Op. 12	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Nov 4, 1997	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 1, Op. 43 / The Storm (Groza), Op. 76 / Fate (Fatum), Op. 77	$18.99	Nov 1, 1997	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY / DVORAK: Serenades for Strings	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jul 23, 1997	Naxos Classics
	TCHAIKOVSKY (THE BEST OF)	~~$8.99~~ $5.99	Jun 20, 1997	Naxos Best Of...
	TCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 4 / The Seasons	$18.99	Feb 1, 1997	Chandos
	TCHAIKOVSKY / DVORAK: Violin Concertos	$2.99	Jan 1, 1997	Amadis