Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Моде́ст Ильи́ч Чайко́вский; 13 May [O.S. 1 May] 1850–15 January [O.S. 2 January] 1916) was a Russian dramatist, opera librettist and translator.
Early life
Modest Ilyich was born in Alapayevsk, Verkhotursky Uyezd, Perm Governorate, the younger brother of the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. He graduated from the Imperial School of Jurisprudence with a degree in law. In 1876, Modest became the tutor to a deaf-mute boy Nikolai ("Kolya") Hermanovich Konradi (1868–1922) and, using a special teaching method, helped him to talk, write, and read. In his still unpublished autobiography, broadly quoted by Alexander Poznansky, Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky mentions his and his brother's homosexuality.[1]
Career
Modest chose to dedicate his entire life to literature and music. He wrote plays, translated sonnets by Shakespeare into Russian and wrote librettos for operas by his brother Pyotr, as well as for other composers such as Eduard Nápravník, Arseny Koreshchenko, Anton Arensky and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Being the nearest friend of his brother, he became his first biographer, and also the founder of the Tchaikovsky Museum in Klin.
Plays
- Predrassudki (Предрассудки – Prejudices)
- Simfoniya (Симфония – Symphony)
- Den' v Peterburge (День в Петербурге – A Day in St Petersburg)
Opera libretti
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades (Пиковая дама - Pikovaya dama), Op. 68, 1890. Premiered: 19 December [O.S. 7 December] 1890, St Petersburg
- Tchaikovsky: Iolanta (Иоланта – Iolanta), Op. 69, 1891, based on the Danish play Kong Renés Datter (King René’s Daughter) by Henrik Hertz, translated by Fyodor Miller and adapted by Vladimir Rafailovich Zotov. Premiered: 1892, Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg.
- Eduard Nápravník: Dubrovsky (Дубровский). Premiered: 15 January [O.S. 3 January] 1895, at the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg.
- Arseny Koreshchenko: Ledyanoy dom (Ледяной дом). Premiered: 20 November [O.S. 7 November] 1900, Moscow.
- Anton Arensky: Nal' i Damayanty (Наль и Дамаянти), after the epos Mahabharata. Premiered: 22 January [O.S. 9 January] 1904, Moscow.
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Francesca da Rimini (Франческа да Римини), Op. 25, 1904, after the story of the heroine Francesca da Rimini from the fifth canto of Dante's epic poem Inferno (the first part of The Divine Comedy). Premiered: 24 January [O.S. 11 January] 1906, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.
References
- ^ Poznansky, Alexander. Tchaikovsky Through Others' Eyes. Indiana University Press, 1999, p. 8
Bibliography
Tchaikovsky, Modest: The Life And Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, University Press of the Pacific (2004) ISBN 1-4102-1612-8
External links
- Works by or about Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky at the Internet Archive
- Modest Tchaikovsky at IMDb
- v
- t
- e
- The Voyevoda
- Undina
- The Oprichnik
- Vakula the Smith
- Eugene Onegin
- The Maid of Orleans
- Mazepa (or Mazeppa)
- Cherevichki
- The Enchantress
- The Queen of Spades
- Iolanta
- Swan Lake
- The Sleeping Beauty
- The Nutcracker
- No. 1 in G minor (Winter Daydreams)
- No. 2 in C minor (Little Russian)
- No. 3 in D major (Polish)
- No. 4 in F minor
- Symphony in B minor (Manfred)
- No. 5 in E minor
- No. 6 in B minor (Pathétique)
- Symphony in E♭ major (unfinished)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 in B♭ minor
- Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major
- Piano Concerto No. 3 in E♭ major
- Concert Fantasia
- Andante and Finale
- Sérénade mélancolique
- Valse-Scherzo
- Violin Concerto in D major
- Variations on a Rococo Theme
- Pezzo capriccioso
- Cello Concerto
- Romeo and Juliet
- The Tempest
- Hamlet
- Capriccio Italien
- Francesca da Rimini
- The Storm
- Fatum
- The Voyevoda
- 1812 Overture
- Marche slave
- Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem
- Festival Coronation March
- Orchestral Suite No. 1 in D minor
- Orchestral Suite No. 2 in C major
- Orchestral Suite No. 3 in G major
- Orchestral Suite No. 4 in G major (Mozartiana)
- Serenade for Strings
- Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
- All-Night Vigil
- Moscow
- Six Romances (Op. 38)
- Quartet Movement in B♭ major
- String Quartet No. 1 in D major
- String Quartet No. 2 in F major
- String Quartet No. 3 in E♭ minor
- Souvenir d'un lieu cher
- Piano Trio in A minor
- String Sextet in D minor (Souvenir de Florence)
- Scherzo à la russe
- Souvenir de Hapsal
- The Seasons
- Grand Piano Sonata in G major
- Piano Sonata No. 2 in C♯ minor
- Tchaikovsky (1970 film)
- The Music Lovers (1971 film)
- Modest Ilyich Tchaikovsky (brother)
- Vladimir Davydov (nephew)
- Antonina Miliukova (wife)
- Nadezhda von Meck (patron)
- In popular media
- Tchaikovsky State House-Museum
- Tchaikovsky Museum (Votkinsk)
- Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
- Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra
- Chaikovskij (crater)
- International Tchaikovsky Competition
- Category
- Audio