Fatalism...

Fatalism

In the immediate aftermath of his disastrous marriage, Tchaikovsky composed his 4th symphony, dedicated to Madame von Meck. He told her,"There is a programme to our symphony... the introduction is the seed of the whole work... this is Fate, the fatal force which prevents the realization of our hopes of happiness."

From then onwards, his work became increasingly dominated by the idea of Fate. It pervades his opera Eugene Onegin, based on Pushkin's verse novel, a powerful emotional drama set against the colourful background of Russian country life. The opera had uncanny parallels with Tchaikovsky's own situation, particularly in the ardent letter written by the herione, Tatyana, to the insensitive Onegin, who fails to appreciate her true worth until many years later.

The same sense of predestination dominates the 5th symphony (1888), whose famous opening theme represents "complete resignation before Fate", while the second movement, with its exquisite opening horn solo, is a radiant love-song. Both Fate and Pushkin provided the scenario for tchaikovsky's last successful opera Pikovaya dama (The Queen of Spades), a chilling supernatural tale of the death and destruction wought by a gambler's obsession.

In 1878 Tchaikovsky resigned his teaching job at Moscow Conservatory. From then onwards he spent much time abroad, in Switzerland, where he completed the Violin Concerto (another work strongly influenced by Russian folk themes), and in Italy(the inspiraton of the Capriccio italien and the Souvenir de Florence). In 1880 he commemorated the historic defeat of Napoleon's army with the brash but ever-popular 1812 Overture, which he described as "loud and noisy... and probably artistically worthless".

The retreat of Moscow inspired by Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture

By 1884 Tchaikovsky felt the need to settle down, and found himself a country house near Klin, outside Moscow. He renewed one acquaintance, with Balakirev(who prompted him to compose the Byronic Manfred Symphony), but lost another when, in October 1890, his substitute mother-figure Madame von Meck abruptly discontinued their 14-year relationship.