Tchaikovsky Remembered

Library Journal

This charming ``quick-portrait'' by a noted Tchaikovsky biographer is a new entry in the series of ``remembered'' composers from the publisher. Consisting mostly of previously published primary source material, it owes its success to Brown's superior editing and his uncanny gift for fleshing out a portrait with pertinent selections. He removes clouds of romantic myth, revealing Tchaikovsky to be an affable, well-mannered, social human being, very unlike the moody genius of popular imagination. Aspects of the composer's life that caused him great pain, like his closeted homosexuality, are treated openly, making it clear how the glare of international scrutiny might have earned a man of his gentle disposition a reputation for neurotic eccentricity. Conflicting accounts of his demise are also presented, including the controversial and troubling possibility of ``involuntary'' suicide. This is an excellent job worthy of both general and specialized collections.-- Daniel Fermon, Museum of Modern Art Lib., New York

John Shreffler

Tchaikovsky would seem to be familiar enough. His ballets and symphonies are repertory staples, and much of his other music is performed regularly. The general contours of the man, his work, and his personality are known, even to the beginning music lover. Tchaikovsky, though, is still a hard man to know. His private life and personality remain somewhat shrouded. A homosexual who had problems with his sexual identity, he had unusually difficult relations with women; he married, suffered a nervous breakdown, divorced, and had a famous correspondence with a wealthy widow whom he refused to actually meet. Similarly, the circumstances of his suicide after condemnation by a court of honor composed of former schoolmates for the seduction of a duke's nephew remain unknown to many. This collection of the reminiscences of those who knew the composer at various stages of his life will prove useful to those interested in such details.