Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s mother, Alexandra d’Assier, was born in 1813 in St. Petersburg. She lost her mother early, and her father sent her in 1819 to a government-sponsored school for orphaned girls from noble families (the Women’s Patriotic Institute), where she finished scientific courses in 1829. The school was considered one of the best educational institutions in St. Petersburg; honored professors taught there, including the well-known in Pushkin’s literary circles professor of Russian literature, Pyotr Pletnyov. Alexandra received a fine education; she spoke French and German fluently. In addition, she played the piano and sang well.
Alexandra’s father, Andrey d’Assier, was a prominent customs official. He was a Catholic of French descent and came to Russia from Prussia. He had taken Russian citizenship and, thanks to his education and connections, soon rose to the rank of Active State Councilor.
In 1833, Alexandra married a mining engineer Ilya Tchaikovsky. They had a harmonious relationship. The composer’s father addressed his wife as ‘Sweetheart, darling’, ‘My angel, my most amazing sweet wife’, ‘Friend of my soul’, ‘Beloved friend’, ‘My angel Sashechka’. ‘You are rich without riches, you are rich with the love of your husband and of those close to you, you are rich with charms and talents, you are rich with virtues and all the qualities of the soul that make me love you, worship you. The happiness with which you reward me is a divine gift, with it you and I do not need anything more, ” the elder Tchaikovsky wrote to his wife.
Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer’s brother, recalled about his mother, ‘In contrast to her husband, in family life Alexandra Andreyevna rarely demonstrated warm feelings and affections. She was very kind, but her kindness, in comparison to the constant friendliness of her husband to everyone and anyone, was strict, it manifested more in her actions, rather than words.’
In 1854, Alexandra Andreyevna died of cholera. Pyotr Tchaikovsky at that time was only 14 years old. Ilya Tchaikovsky survived his wife by 25 years. In a letter to his son Pyotr, he wrote, ‘I lived with your mother for 21 years and all that time I both loved her with the ardor of a young man and respected and idolized her as if she was a saint.’
Alexandra’s father, Andrey d’Assier, was a prominent customs official. He was a Catholic of French descent and came to Russia from Prussia. He had taken Russian citizenship and, thanks to his education and connections, soon rose to the rank of Active State Councilor.
In 1833, Alexandra married a mining engineer Ilya Tchaikovsky. They had a harmonious relationship. The composer’s father addressed his wife as ‘Sweetheart, darling’, ‘My angel, my most amazing sweet wife’, ‘Friend of my soul’, ‘Beloved friend’, ‘My angel Sashechka’. ‘You are rich without riches, you are rich with the love of your husband and of those close to you, you are rich with charms and talents, you are rich with virtues and all the qualities of the soul that make me love you, worship you. The happiness with which you reward me is a divine gift, with it you and I do not need anything more, ” the elder Tchaikovsky wrote to his wife.
Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer’s brother, recalled about his mother, ‘In contrast to her husband, in family life Alexandra Andreyevna rarely demonstrated warm feelings and affections. She was very kind, but her kindness, in comparison to the constant friendliness of her husband to everyone and anyone, was strict, it manifested more in her actions, rather than words.’
In 1854, Alexandra Andreyevna died of cholera. Pyotr Tchaikovsky at that time was only 14 years old. Ilya Tchaikovsky survived his wife by 25 years. In a letter to his son Pyotr, he wrote, ‘I lived with your mother for 21 years and all that time I both loved her with the ardor of a young man and respected and idolized her as if she was a saint.’
