Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Written by Dreamworldtech on Friday 22 February 2008
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on the 7th of May 1840 in St Petersburg, Russia. Tchaikovsky started studying piano at five and started showing remarkable gifts at an early age. His mother died when he was 14. Historians comment that this event was the genesis of his composing career. At 19 he started to work at the Ministry of Justice. He remained there for four years despite his increasing involvement in music. Tchaikovsky joined the Conservatory in 1863 and also took private lessons. Tchaikovsky’s first symphony was a public success in 1868.
The unfinished The Voyevoda, which was performed at the Bol’shoy in Moscow in 1869, was Tchaikovsky’s first opera and was less successful. In 1874 Tchaikovsky’s next work was The Oprichnik, which won him some success. At this point Tchaikovsky had also composed his second symphony Vakula the Smith. This symphony uses Ukrainian folk tunes and won some critical acclaim. After this time Tchaikovsky also composed two string quartets and his First Piano Concerto. Then he produced his third symphony the famous Swan Lake in 1875. It was commissioned by the Moscow Opera. In 1876 Tchaikovsky wrote Francesca da Rimini and Rococo Variations for cello and orchestra. One of his finer pieces was Vakula that won him a place in a competition.
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