Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born to Ilya and Alexandra Tchaikovsky in Votkinsk, a small town in the Russian Empire. His father was a mining engineer and civil servant.

Tchaikovsky's mother, Alexandra, dies of cholera, a significant emotional trauma that deeply affected the young composer and influenced his later works.

Tchaikovsky is sent to a preparatory school in Saint Petersburg to prepare for a career in the civil service, following his father's wishes for a practical career path.

Tchaikovsky graduates from the School of Jurisprudence in Saint Petersburg and begins work as a clerk in the Ministry of Justice, a position he holds for several years.

Tchaikovsky enrolls at the newly established Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he studies under Anton Rubinstein and begins to focus seriously on his musical education.

Tchaikovsky is appointed as a professor of harmony at the Moscow Conservatory, a position that provides him with a steady income and the opportunity to teach and compose.

Tchaikovsky completes his Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29, which is well-received and solidifies his reputation as a leading Russian composer.

Tchaikovsky marries Antonina Miliukova, a former student, in a hasty and ill-fated union that ends in separation within weeks, causing him significant personal distress.

Tchaikovsky completes the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35, one of his most celebrated works, which is initially met with mixed reviews but later becomes a staple of the violin repertoire.

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, premieres in Saint Petersburg to great acclaim, further cementing his status as a leading composer of his time.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky dies in Saint Petersburg, reportedly from cholera, though the exact cause remains a subject of debate. He is buried at the Tikhvin Cemetery in Saint Petersburg.