Tchaikovsky: The Man Revealed

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is celebrated as one of Russia's most successful composers, yet his journey to eminence was far from straightforward.

A naturally shy and emotional child, Tchaikovsky's father had initially intended him for a career in the civil service. He came to composing professionally somewhat later in life, and despite his eventual success, he remained a deeply troubled individual. Plagued by self-doubt, he was acutely sensitive to criticism, whilst his mother's death haunted him throughout his life. His persistent attempts to suppress his homosexuality also took a significant toll.

From his disastrous marriage to his extraordinary relationship with his female patron, his numerous romantic entanglements and his unwavering devotion to friends and family, Suchet reveals how the intricate tapestry of Tchaikovsky's emotional life profoundly influenced his music. A man capable of both quick laughter and deep despair, his volatile temperament found its ultimate expression in some of the most emotionally charged music ever composed.

Tchaikovsky: The Man Revealed delves into the complex and often contradictory nature of this great artist, a character long obscured by sanitised accounts from his brother and the Russian authorities, tracing his path to his rightful place among the world's most revered composers.