Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky through Others' Eyes (Russian Music Studies)

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This is a marvelous book about Tchaikovsky compiled of diary entries from his contemporaries with commentaries and analysis by Alexander Poznansky. It is the best kind of biography that makes him seem very real, coming to life off the page. It begins in his school years and continues with a variety of rare diaries and letters of people who came in contact with him and kept journals or notes. It covers the entire social range from princes to valets, so we get quite a variety of observations from the intellectual esoteric to the very "earthy." We see not only Tchaikovsky the great composer, but also the student, the philosopher, the scholar, the workman, the card player, the bon vivant, the unsuitable suitor. It also includes explanations and diaries of his ill-fated marriage and many details of his rich personal life. The conflicts and turning points of Tchaikovsky's career and life are well illustrated. Each chapter is chronologically organized with often the inclusion of several diarists, most of whom are included in the copious illustrations. Poznansky begins each chapter with a biographical essay describing the importance of the contributor and the events of Tchaikovsky's life. The comprehensive scholarship is impeccable and the style superb. Poznansky is one of the only serious scholars, who can put together a well researched biography with style, flair and clarity that will satisfy the most stringent musicologist, while also entertaining and moving any Tchaikovsky admirer.

Tchaicovsky was highly melancholy and controversial figure; his personality -pessimist - appeared to be every bit less fascinating than the music he composed with consummate mastery.
Tchaicovsky mixed feelings towards his male and female lovers revealed profound dissatisfaction in him and remained in search of personal happiness that he never found (which made himself infirm of purpose, something of a miserable grasshopper jumping from adventure to another). His story does not fall within the scope of the sentiments, nostalgias or the occasions of pride prevalent among the other composers.

This is a fascinating look at one of music's controversial composers seen through the eyes of his friends, his teachers, his classmates, etc. etc. Some of the articles have never been published before and lend a great look into Tchaikovsky's real life. An excellent book.

I worried that, with the book being made up of other people's accounts of Tchaikovsky, it would be difficult to get an accurate understanding of who Tchaikovsky was. That was not the case at all. With accounts ranging from those of his brother to those of mere acquaintances, Tchaikovsky Through Others' Eyes managed to keep me interested and feeling that I really knew something about not only Tchaikovsky's life, but about the man he was. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest.

I enjoyed this book very much. A must for anyone interested in Tchaikovsky's life, yet seen through the eyes of people who were close to him. Highly Recommended!