When Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky died of cholera in 1893, he was Russia's most celebrated composer and a musical celebrity worldwide. From his popular ballets and operas, such as Swan Lake and Eugene Onegin, to his acclaimed orchestral works, he left an indelible impression on classical music. Drawing extensively on the composer's uncensored letters and diaries, this critical biography explores Tchaikovsky's central place within the artistic culture of nineteenth-century Russia and reveals how he became a figure of international renown"--Back cover.
