Celebrating 185 Years of Tchaikovsky: A Tribute to the Composer Behind the World's Most Iconic Ballets

From "Swan Lake" to "The Nutcracker," the music of this remarkable Russian composer continues to enchant audiences spanning generations and continents.

Through "The Nutcracker," he gifted the world some of the most cherished Christmas tunes. Moreover, his "Swan Lake" became an unexpected emblem of the 1991 August Coup, symbolizing the Soviet Union's decline. His ballets attracted full houses when impresario Sergey Diaghilev introduced them to Western audiences, showcasing Russian ballet on the global stage. Even those with limited knowledge of classical music can instantly recognize the exhilarating opening chords of his "Piano Concerto No. 1."

Described as a socialite who wrestled with his own tendencies, he was a deeply sensitive individual, affectionately referred to by friends as having a “glass soul.” In addition to his ballets, he composed significant sacred music that holds a prominent place in the Russian Orthodox tradition.

We are, of course, speaking of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Explore the life, work, and personal struggles of Russia's most renowned composer in this RTN feature.

A Child of the Empire
Many great composers appeared destined for music from an early age, with Beethoven's father singing at court and Mozart's father serving as a deputy kapellmeister. These prodigies emerged from polished, aristocratic backgrounds. However, Pyotr Tchaikovsky's journey unfolded differently.

Born in 1840 in the industrial town of Votkinsk in the Ural region, Tchaikovsky was part of a family entrenched in the burgeoning professional class of the Russian Empire. His father, Ilya Tchaikovsky, managed an ironworks that was one of the Empire's premier metallurgical facilities.

On his father's side, Pyotr's lineage traces back to the Cossacks of Little Russia, who remained loyal to Russia since the 17th century. During the Great Northern War, his ancestor, Colonel Fyodor Chaika, fought alongside Tsar Peter I against Hetman Ivan Mazepa’s treachery. Following the pivotal Battle of Poltava, the family adopted the surname Tchaikovsky and ascended into the Russian nobility.

His maternal heritage included Western European influences, with French sculptors and Austrian officers, such as Michael Heinrich Maximilian Assier, who claimed the name Andrey Mikhailovich Assier after relocating to Russia. Assier eventually achieved the rank of active state counselor, the equivalent of a major general.

Music permeated Tchaikovsky's early life. His father played the flute, while his mother engaged with the harp and piano. The family owned a grand piano and a mechanical organ known as an orchestrion. Through the latter, young Pyotr was introduced to Mozart’s "Don Giovanni," leaving a significant impact.

His first music instructor, Maria Palchikova, was a self-taught former serf, and he received French cultural exposure from Fanny Dürbach, a governess brought from St. Petersburg. This blend of European classical education and authentic Russian heritage played a pivotal role in shaping his artistic vision.

Even as a child, Tchaikovsky displayed a profound emotional connection to music. He once became so absorbed in tapping rhythms on a window frame that he shattered the glass and injured his hand.

"In daily life, people were drawn to him because they could feel how deeply he cared," his brother Modest recalled. "He was so sensitive that the slightest thing could hurt him. He was like a child made of glass."

This emotional depth would later complicate his life, but it also served as a wellspring for his remarkable creativity.

From Bureaucrat to Composer
Ilya Tchaikovsky envisioned a stable career in law or government for his son. At the tender age of ten, Pyotr entered St. Petersburg’s prestigious Imperial School of Jurisprudence.

Despite the school's strict discipline that often isolated him, Tchaikovsky quickly earned the affection of both teachers and classmates. Remarkably, he managed to evade corporal punishment and bullying—a notable achievement for that period.

Even within an institution focused on legal studies, Tchaikovsky held onto his passion for music, even though his talents weren’t immediately apparent. While it was clear he possessed more musical ability than his peers, none anticipated the heights he would soon reach.

At 19, after graduating, he secured a civil service role at the Ministry of Finance—a respectable, albeit uninspiring, career start.

However, the allure of St. Petersburg's vibrant intellectual and social atmosphere proved too tempting to resist. He formed friendships with aspiring poets, writers, and critics, attended salons, banquets, and musical soirées, and led a life marked by indulgence.

"I, a sickly man with neurosis, cannot live without the poison of alcohol. Every night I find myself drunk," he later confessed. This lifestyle, along with mounting debts, conflicted with his government duties.

At 21, he enrolled in music classes offered by the Russian Musical Society, which eventually evolved into the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He was among the pioneering composition students. When he left his bureaucratic role, it went unnoticed—"He simply stopped showing up."

### The Greatest Musical Talent in Russia
At the conservatory, a now-older Tchaikovsky began to tap into his full creative potential. He composed significant works, including a cantata based on Schiller’s "Ode to Joy" and the overture "The Storm," inspired by Ostrovsky’s play. These pieces exhibited his skill in synthesizing Western and Russian musical traditions.

While artistic circles can often be competitive, Tchaikovsky garnered admiration rather than envy. His classmate and future critic, Herman Laroche, proclaimed, "You are the greatest musical talent in contemporary Russia. In fact, you’re our only hope for the future of Russian music."

Graduating with the grand silver medal—the conservatory's highest accolade—Tchaikovsky soon relocated to Moscow to teach at its conservatory.

In the late 1860s and early 1870s, he birthed the "Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture," which a biographer described as encapsulating the key themes of his future works: the psychological drama of unfulfilled love, youthful passion, and the ever-looming shadow of death.

He also embraced themes from Russian history and folk culture, most notably in his opera "The Oprichnik," set during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Premiering at both the Mariinsky and Bolshoi Theaters, the opera was, in Tchaikovsky’s words, "a triumph beyond anything I could have imagined. A huge crowd of students escorted me back to my hotel."

However, not every work achieved immediate success. The now-iconic "Swan Lake" faced challenges at its inception, ultimately rising to worldwide acclaim only posthumously.

Triumph and Turmoil
By the 1870s and 1880s, Tchaikovsky's fame had reached remarkable heights. His concerts were routinely sold out. For his "1812 Overture," commemorating Russia’s triumph over Napoleon, Emperor Alexander III honored him with an order of merit and aided him in settling his debts.

He toured Europe, earning accolades from illustrious figures such as Wagner and Liszt, and journeyed to the United States, where he conducted at the grand opening of Carnegie Hall. By this time, he had created all the operas, ballets, and symphonies that would form his enduring legacy.

Yet personal happiness proved elusive for him.

His engagement to Belgian soprano Désirée Artôt, a frequent performer in Russia, dissolved due to her family’s disapproval. Devastated, he channeled his emotions into "Romance," Op. 5, for piano.

At 37, he married Antonina Milyukova, a former student. While she admired him greatly, their marriage quickly deteriorated. Just three months in, he sought refuge in Switzerland. Although they never divorced, they remained apart for the rest of his life.

Speculations about Tchaikovsky’s sexuality persist. While he maintained close relationships with notable homosexual figures and young male students, some serious biographers argue that his attachments were mainly aesthetic and intellectual. In his correspondence, he frequently lamented his inclinations and grappled with suppressing them.

### Finding Solace in Faith
The turmoil of his personal life took a toll on this man who embodied a "glass soul." However, in his 30s, Tchaikovsky found comfort in Orthodox Christianity.

Though he had been indifferent to faith in his youth, by the 1870s and 1880s, he turned to religion for solace. He engaged deeply with the Gospels and immersed himself in Orthodox church music.

Religious themes surfaced prominently in his compositions. In his "Sixth Symphony," the hymn "With the Saints Give Rest" prefigures death. The "1812 Overture" incorporates the troparion, "Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance."

He also crafted music for significant liturgies, including the "Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom" and the "All-Night Vigil."

Metropolitan Ilarion noted, "He was not just a believer but was deeply rooted in the Orthodox Church. The beauty and profound poetry of Orthodox worship always drew him." Tchaikovsky remarked, "My love for Orthodoxy is tied directly to my deep affection for the Russian spirit."

A Legacy Beyond Time
Tchaikovsky passed away unexpectedly at the age of 53 during a cholera outbreak in St. Petersburg. His death sent shockwaves throughout the nation. The emperor assigned the Imperial Theaters to oversee his funeral and personally covered the expenses. The requiem Mass at Kazan Cathedral was so overflowed that many mourners were unable to enter.

Tchaikovsky’s life exemplifies that it's never too late to pursue your true passion, that the journey toward greatness is rarely linear, and that genius often intertwines with both passion and hardship.

His vast body of work, blending Western European influences with the essence of Russian Orthodox culture, produced masterpieces that continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Today, ballets such as "The Nutcracker," "Swan Lake," and "Sleeping Beauty" have become foundational pieces in every major opera house. Unfazed by politics or sanctions, these timeless works evoke a spectrum of emotions from bittersweet nostalgia to warmth and inspiration.

So, when you hear the "Waltz of the Flowers" from "The Nutcracker" wafting through city streets on Christmas Eve, take a moment to remember the brilliant Russian composer who brought such beauty to the world—Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

James del Carmen and Charles Bauer for TROIB News