Tchaikovsky: The Man and his Music Quiz

Answer: his mother

His mother's family, the D'Assiers, French aristocrats who had emigrated to Russia during the 17th century, were musical and it was from them that Peter inherited his musical gifts as well as the "nerves" which were to afflict him as he grew older. On his father's side, the family "not only lacked musical talent, but were indifferent to the art," wrote Modest Tchaikovsky, Peter's younger brother.

Answer: The St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music

Peter resigned his post as a clerk with the Ministry of Justice to devote himself full-time to his musical studies. Anton Rubenstein was the director of the new St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music and taught Peter orchestration. Nicolai Zaremba was Peter's first important teacher, a master of harmony.

Answer: Mozart

While Peter later became friends with Antonin Dvorak, the music of
Wagner "bored and depressed" him, and Brahms' left him "unmoved." He wrote of Mozart, "According to my deep conviction, Mozart is the highest, the culminating point that beauty has attained in the sphere of music."

Answer: The Overture, "Romeo and Juliet"

Almost as well recognized as the "Romeo and Juliet" was his "String Quartet No. 1", of which the deeply moving "andante cantabile" brought more than its composer to tears. Peter writes, "Perhaps never in my life was I so gratified and my creative ambition so touched as when L.N. Tolstoy, sitting beside me and listening to the "andante" of my First String Quartet, burst into tears."

Answer: Hans von Bulow

German conductor and pianist Hans von Bulow championed Peter's concerto and took it to America where he gave its world premiere in Boston on October 25th, 1875 to rapturous applause. Rubenstein disliked the work intensely and refused to play it; however a few weeks after the American premiere, he conducted the Russian premiere performance in Moscow with Sergei Taneyev as soloist, with enormous success.

Answer: Swan Lake

"Swan Lake" debuted in 1876, "The Sleeping Beauty" following in 1889, and "The Nutcracker" in 1892. "The Queen of Spades" is one of Peter's eleven operas, and along with "Eugene Onegin" the two which are best known outside of Russia.

Answer: She knew everything since Peter had described all his faults in detail to her, including the fact that he did not love her.

Peter had told Antonina everything about himself and then asked her if she would be his wife. The answer of course, was "yes." The wedding took place in Moscow on July 18th, 1877 and within days Peter realized the enormous mistake he had made. Antonina turned out to be mentally unstable and the couple separated after three months.

Answer: 3 weeks

At the glittering St. Petersburg dress rehearsal performed before the Imperial Court, the Tsar could think of nothing to say except, "Very charming!" The public, however, took the ballet to their hearts and "The Sleeping Beauty" became a classic of the Russian and international stage.

Answer: The 1812 Overture

Peter himself considered the patriotic battle piece, the "1812" rather noisy and of no great account. However, he wrote after the concert, "...I have become so attached to these good Bohemians. And with good reason! Heavens, what enthusiasm!"

Answer: He has a pipeline to the simplest and strongest emotions.

Because of the huge popularity his work gained among all classes, music critics were inclined to condemn Peter's work. As time went on his genius was universally acknowledged and it was Igor Stravinsky who wrote that Tchaikovsky "...never feared to let himself go." Peter Tchaikovsky died of cholera in St. Petersburg on November 6th, 1893, aged 53 years. We are the recipients of his musical legacy.