Composer. Born in Kama-Votkinsk, Vyatka Guberniya in the Ural Mountains of Russia, he began piano studies at age five and before he was ten could read and write French and German. In 1850 he was sent to the St. Petersburg School of Jurisprudence, and after graduation he was appointed as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice. In 1862 he resigned and enrolled the newly founded Saint Petersburg Conservatory, he would remain with the Conservatory as student and teacher for almost sixteen years. His first symphony, "Winter Daydreams," was performed in Moscow in 1868 and was well received. He then won acclaim with his second symphony, "Little Russian," in 1872. He retired from the Conservatory after a nervous breakdown in 1877, the year one of his best known ballets, "Lebedinoe Ozero" (Swan Lake), debuted at the Moscow Imperial Bolshoi Theatre. After his recovery he came under the patronage of Madame Nadezhda von Meck who gave him a yearly allowance which allowed him to devote his time to composition. They never met but corresponded for fourteen years and his fourth symphony was dedicated to Madame von Meck. From 1878 to 1885, Tchaikovsky traveled extensively and was well regarded in Europe as well as in Russia. He presented the 1812 Overture in 1880. In 1888 Russian Tsar Alexander Alexandrovitch Romanov III granted him a yearly pension. His highly regarded ballets, "The Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker," debuted in 1890 and 1891 respectively. A few days after conducting the premier of his Sixth Symphony, "Pathétique," Tchaikovsky died in Saint Petersburg reportedly of cholera, many scholars now believe that his death was in fact a suicide, and that he drank tainted, unboiled water deliberately. His legacy included seven symphonies, four orchestral suites, nineteen concertos and orchestral pieces, and more than a dozen ballets and operas, many of which are performed regularly today.

Composer. Born in Kama-Votkinsk, Vyatka Guberniya in the Ural Mountains of Russia, he began piano studies at age five and before he was ten could read and write French and German. In 1850 he was sent to the St. Petersburg School of Jurisprudence, and after graduation he was appointed as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice. In 1862 he resigned and enrolled the newly founded Saint Petersburg Conservatory, he would remain with the Conservatory as student and teacher for almost sixteen years. His first symphony, "Winter Daydreams," was performed in Moscow in 1868 and was well received. He then won acclaim with his second symphony, "Little Russian," in 1872. He retired from the Conservatory after a nervous breakdown in 1877, the year one of his best known ballets, "Lebedinoe Ozero" (Swan Lake), debuted at the Moscow Imperial Bolshoi Theatre. After his recovery he came under the patronage of Madame Nadezhda von Meck who gave him a yearly allowance which allowed him to devote his time to composition. They never met but corresponded for fourteen years and his fourth symphony was dedicated to Madame von Meck. From 1878 to 1885, Tchaikovsky traveled extensively and was well regarded in Europe as well as in Russia. He presented the 1812 Overture in 1880. In 1888 Russian Tsar Alexander Alexandrovitch Romanov III granted him a yearly pension. His highly regarded ballets, "The Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker," debuted in 1890 and 1891 respectively. A few days after conducting the premier of his Sixth Symphony, "Pathétique," Tchaikovsky died in Saint Petersburg reportedly of cholera, many scholars now believe that his death was in fact a suicide, and that he drank tainted, unboiled water deliberately. His legacy included seven symphonies, four orchestral suites, nineteen concertos and orchestral pieces, and more than a dozen ballets and operas, many of which are performed regularly today.

Bio by: Iola