Tchaikovsky, Pitor Ilyich (1840-1893)

Born at Votkinsk, Russia, on May 7,1840; died St.Petersburg, Russia, on November 6,1893. He is certainly the most "popular" of Russian Composers. His 4th, 5th, and 6th Symphonies find their place in concerts around the world, his Piano Concerto and Violin ballet "The Nutcracker" and the orchestral suite derived from it's music music are ubiquitous, and no ballet company could not exist without "Swan Lake" in it's repertoire. Add to these such things as the Overture fantasies "Romeo and Juliet" ,and "Hamlet", the "Italian Capriccio", the"Overture 1812" the "Variations on a Rococo Theme" for Cello and Orchestra, etc.., and we can see why the name of Tchaikovsky is probably the most popular one in concert programs.