Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian music composer.

He was homosexual and

kept his sexuality a secret for much of his life because it was not acceptable to
society at that time. Tchaikovsky taught at the Moscow Conservatory and embarked
on two tours to promote his work

He was just 4 when he began composing!

Tchaikovsky was a prolific composer. His work, Characteristic Dances, was first
performed in 1865. From that point he would continue composing with European
and Russian musical traditions, likely influenced by his upbringing and travels. The
music of Tchaikovsky would include a total of 169 compositions consisting of
symphonies, operas, ballets, concertos, cantatas, and songs.

Tchaikovsky masterpieces include:

• 1812 Overture

• The Nutcracker

• Marche Slave

• Swan Lake

• Symphony No. 5

• Piano Concerto No. 1

• Symphony No. 6 Pathetique

• Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture

• The Sleeping Beauty

• Violin Concerto

• Eugene Onegin

• String Sextet Souvenir de Florence

• Les Saisons for Piano

Tchaikovsky's first ballet, Swan Lake, premiered in 1877. Shortly after that, he
composed Marche Slave which was soon followed by his work for cello and
orchestra, Variations on a Rococo Theme.