Biography
Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsk, a town in the Vyatka Governorate of the Russian Empire (present-day Udmurtia), on 7 May [O.S. 25 April] 1840. His father was Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky, a mining engineer, and his mother was Alexandra Andreyevna (née Assier), the second wife of Ilya Petrovich. Tchaikovsky had two older sisters and a younger brother.
Tchaikovsky showed an early talent for music, and he began taking piano lessons at the age of five. In 1850, he moved to Saint Petersburg to study at the Imperial School of Jurisprudence. While at the school, he continued to study music and also performed in the school orchestra.
Tchaikovsky graduated from the Imperial School of Jurisprudence in 1859 and began working in the Ministry of Justice. However, he soon quit his job to devote himself to music. In 1863, he enrolled at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied with Anton Rubinstein.
Tchaikovsky graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 1865 and began his career as a composer. His early works were not well-received, but he eventually achieved success with his opera Eugene Onegin (1879). Tchaikovsky went on to compose some of the most popular classical music ever written, including the 1812 Overture (1880), the Swan Lake ballet suite (1876), and the Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture (1880).
Tchaikovsky traveled extensively throughout Europe and the United States, and he was often praised for his conducting. In 1893, he was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, one of the highest honors in the Russian Empire.
Death
Tchaikovsky died in Saint Petersburg on 6 November [O.S. 25 October] 1893, at the age of 53. His cause of death is not certain, but it is believed that he died of cholera. Tchaikovsky was buried at the Tikhvin Cemetery in Saint Petersburg.
Legacy
Tchaikovsky is considered one of the greatest composers of all time. His works are characterized by their emotional depth, beauty of melody, and rich orchestration. Tchaikovsky was a master of many different musical genres, and he left behind a large and varied body of work. His music continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences all over the world.
Some of Tchaikovsky's most famous works include:
* 1812 Overture (1880)
* Swan Lake ballet suite (1876)
* Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture (1880)
* Eugene Onegin (1879)
* The Queen of Spades (1890)
* The Nutcracker (1892)
* Symphony No. 6 (1893)