Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840, in Votkisk, which is in the
rural part of western Russia. He was a son of a mining inspector. Tchaikovsky
was the second of six children. His intention was to study law, but that profession
did not suit him well. Fortunately, Tchaikovsky was gifted in music so he started
taking music classes at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. In 4 years, he graduated
from the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Tchaikovsky became a professor at the
Composition of Conservatorium in Moscow. He was professor there for 12 years.
The pay was little, but he loved his job.
Tchaikovsky had sexual problems and he thought that he could stop them by marrying.
In 1887, he was married to Antonina Milyukova, a music student at the Moscow
Conservatory. The marriage was a disaster. They separated in 9 weeks.
Tchaikovsky had only one wish -- to die. He tried to commit suicide by standing
in cold Moscow river water to catch a cold and die of pneumonia. His brother
saved him.
In 1893, Tchaikovsky received an honorary doctorate of music from Cambridge
University. On November 6, 1893, Tchaikovsky died in St. Petersburg, Russia,
of cholera because he drank water he had not boiled.
Hear his music
Swan Lake, Hungarian Dance Act 3