When Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky died of cholera in 1893; he was Russiarsquo;s most celebrated composer. Drawing extensively on Tchaikovskyrsquo;s uncensored letters and diaries; this richly documented biography explores the composerrsquo;s life in the artistic culture of nineteenth-century Russian society; revealing how he became a figure of international renown. Tchaikovsky was gifted with a prodigious work ethic and a commitment to writing music that was as scrupulously crafted as it was artistically inspired. His music struck audiences as supremely communicative and appealed to wealthy and influential patrons; such as Nadezhda von Meck and Tsar Alexander iii; as well as Russiarsquo;s growing audiences for serious classical music. He became the nationrsquo;s leading musical celebrity; performing at the opening of New Yorkrsquo;s Carnegie Hall in 1891 and receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge in the summer before his death. Yet such success came at a price; and Tchaikovsky found the social obligations that his fame entailed burdensome. Setting aside clicheacute;s of the composer as a tortured homosexual and naively confessional artist; this engaging biography paints a new and vivid picture of Tchaikovsky that weaves together insights into his music with a sensitive evocation of his inner emotional life. It contains accessible introductions to his key compositions; as well as suggesting less familiar works for readers to explore; making it essential reading for all those who enjoy classical music.
#3739102 in eBooks 2016-07-20 2016-07-26File Name: B01J4QHNW8
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