Page 133 - Blue Feather Book 1

In 1859 he worked for 3 years in the Justice Department of Russian Empire, and in 1863 he entered the Conservatory, where he was studying and teaching.
In 1877 Tchaikovsky married the twenty-eight-year-old Antonina Miliukova, one of his students at the conservatory, whom he hardly knew. The marriage was a total disaster and it has been said it was the reason for his nervous break- down. Many biographers suggest he even considered suicide several times, but the one thing that remained the same was his love for music and his ability to compose.
He was later financially supported by a wealthy widow named Nadezhda von Meck, who was very impressed by his music and his talent, even though he was only interested in her money. Their relationship lasted fourteen years. It is worth noting that they never met, they communicated by writing letters to each other.
He performed all over Europe and in 1891 he was invited to be the conductor on opening night at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Tchaikovsky contracted cholera and died on November 6, 1893, although some have speculated that he committed suicide.
What we know now is that he was a brilliant composer and his music is even more famous now that when he was alive. He is definitely one of the masters of the Romantic era. You have probably heard of The Nutcracker, which is usually performed around the world during Christmas time.
Some of his work include:
• •
• • • •
Operas, including Eugene Onegin, The Maid of Orleans and Mazeppa.
3 ballets: Swan Lake (1877), The Sleeping Beauty (1890) and The Nutcracker
(1892).
Orchestral music, including 7 symphonies. Piano concertos.
Violin concertos and symphonic poems. Chamber, keyboard and choral music.
132
The Blue Feather Literature First Course