Tchaikovsky through Others' Eyes

by Alexander Poznansky, Robert Bird (Translator)

" . . . intriguing collection . . . a recommended study for anyone interested in the habits and personalities of great minds." —ForeWord

This compilation of reminiscences about Tchaikovsky the man is unprecedented in English. The memoirs, diary entries, and interviews written and conducted by his contemporaries show us both the public and the private figure: the law student, the professor, the philanthropist, the loving brother and uncle, the intrepid traveler, and of course the composer and conductor. In more than 50 documents—some laudatory, others not—Tchaikovsky's contemporaries speak of little-known facets of the composer's life: foibles and mannerisms, politics and tastes, prejudices and preferences (sexual and otherwise). The result is a dynamic portrayal of the composer, with all the complexities and paradoxes of a real life.

Genres: Music

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1999

Reviews

[Catherine Corman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pyotr Ilyich has recently begun to tell me everything, I suppose because apart from me there’s no one else to tell.

-Tchaikovsky Through Others' Eyes