by Daniel Gregory Mason
all dates have been converted to Western calendar

1840 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky born (May 7) at Votkinsk, son of Ilya Petrovitch Tchaikvosky, an inspector of mines 1850 Begins to compose. Sent to School of Jurisprudence in St. Petersburg. Tchaikovsky in 1860 age 20 1854 His mother dies of cholera, June. 1859 Enters the Ministry of Justice as a clerk. 1863 Resigns his post at the Ministry of Justice in order to devote all his time to music study (Theory under Zaremba; orchestration under Anton Rubinstein). 1865 Nicholas Rubinstein engages him as a professor of composition in the newly founded Conservatory of Music in Moscow. 1869 Begins Romeo and Juliet fantasy-overture, on a scheme suggested by Balakirev. 1874 Composes Piano Concerto in B Flat Minor, intending to dedicate it to Nicholas Rubinstein, but when it is severely criticized by him dedicates it instead to Hans von Bulow. 1876 Meets Liszt and calls on Wagner, who does not receive him. Begins correspondence with Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck. 1877 Begins Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, dedicated later to Mme. von Meck. Also begins opera Eugene Oniegin. Marries but separates from Anotonina Ivanovna Milyukov. Mme. von Meck settles on him an annuity of 6,000 roubles. 1878 Resigns his professorship, and finishes his symphony and his opera. From now on he works much in Clarens, Switzerland, and other European places where he can find quiet. 1879 Eugenen Oniegin performed in Moscow (March 29) 1882 Tchaikovsky dedicates his Trio to the memory of Nicholas Rubinstein, who died in 1881. Tchaikovsky's House at Klin 1885 Moves to a country house, the first of several, at Maidanovo, near Klin, and commences there his Manfred, on a scheme suggested by Balakirev. 1887 Makes his first appearance as concert conductor, at St. Petersburg, in a program of his own works. 1888 Makes a highly successful international concert tour as conductor, meeting at Leipzig Brahms, Grieg and others, at Prague Dvorak, at Paris Gounod, Massenet, and Paderewski. Finishes his Fifth Symphony, in E Minor 1890 Rupture with Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck. Death of his sister 1891 Visits America, and conducts his own works at the ceremonies opening Carnegie Hall, New York (May5). 1893 Returns to his country house at Klin in January, and begins Symphony No.6, the "Pathetic." Goes to England in June to receive an honorary degree from Cambridge University, together with Boito, Bruch, Saint-Saens and Grieg. Sixth Symphony performed under his direction at the St. Petersburg on Oct. 28, without marked success. Tchaikovsky develops cholera and dies in St. Petersburg. Credit: Written by Daniel Gregory Mason for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians More: Comprehensive calender | Man | Composer | Miscellaneous | | Home | 1998-9 by Gretchen Lamb Geocities