Peter Tchaikovsk Program Notes and Sheet Music

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840 – November 6, 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the current classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the 1812 Overture, his First Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy, several symphonies, and the opera Eugene Onegin.

Tchaikovsky lived as a bachelor for most of his life. In 1868, he met Belgian soprano Désirée Artôt with whom he considered marriage, but, owing to various circumstances, the relationship ended. Tchaikovsky later claimed she was the only woman he ever loved. In 1877, at the age of 37, he wed a former student, Antonina Miliukova. The marriage was a disaster. Mismatched psychologically and sexually, the couple lived together for only two and a half months before Tchaikovsky left, overwrought emotionally and suffering from acute writer's block. Tchaikovsky's family remained supportive of him during this crisis and throughout his life.

Tchaikovsky was a complex and troubled man. He suffered from depression and anxiety, and he was plagued by self-doubt. He was also homosexual, which was a source of great shame and anxiety for him. Despite his personal demons, Tchaikovsky was a prolific and successful composer. He wrote over 80 works, including symphonies, concertos, operas, ballets, and chamber music. His music is characterized by its emotional intensity, its lush orchestration, and its dramatic flair.

Tchaikovsky died suddenly of cholera in 1893. His death was a shock to the musical world, and his music has continued to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world ever since.

Tchaikovsky's music is still enjoyed by audiences around the world. His works are full of emotional intensity, lush orchestration, and dramatic flair. Tchaikovsky is considered one of the greatest composers of all time, and his music has had a lasting influence on the world of classical music.