Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Russian Romantic Composer (1840–1893)

Genres and notable compositions

Tchaikovsky's output includes large-scale theatrical works as well as instrumental and vocal music. Among his contributions are:

• Operas — eleven stage operas in total, several still regularly performed.
• Ballets — three full-length works that became staples of the repertoire.
• Orchestral music — symphonies, concertos and other orchestral pieces that helped define his international reputation.
• Chamber music — works for small groups demonstrating a different side of his craft.
• More than a hundred songs for voice and piano.

Famous ballets

His three major ballets remain among the most frequently performed and recorded in the world: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. These scores contain many of the melodies most closely associated with romantic music and are often cited when discussing the pinnacle of ballet composition.

Tchaikovsky's combination of refined craftsmanship and dramatic feeling continues to attract listeners and performers across the globe. His works are regularly played in concert halls, opera houses and ballet companies, and they occupy a central place in the canon of 19th-century music.