Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s portrait photograph was created in Kharkiv by famous photographer Alfred Fedetsky. Tchaikovsky gifted his portraits by Alfred Fedetsky to his nephew Vladimir Davydov, his friend and music publisher Pyotr Jurgenson, and celloist Anatoly Brandukov. Fedetsky was a Polish-born Russian photographer and one of the first cinematographers in the Russian Empire. He created the first Russian motion picture. Fedetsky’s works include numerous portraits of famous people of the Russian Empire, including members of the imperial family. This portrait of Tchaikovsky is an enlarged and cropped copy of the original photograph.
Director of the Kharkiv Music School, Ilya Ilyich Slatin, insisted that the composer came to Kharkiv. It took a while to find the time for the trip, but finally, in March 1893, Pyotr Ilyich visited the city. The arrival of the famous composer caused quite a stir. Tickets to the concert were quickly sold out, and the audience was packed. The concert culminated in a standing ovation. Elated students of the music school sat Tchaikovsky in a chair and carried him all the way to the exit.
Then, ‘members of the Musical Society (…) sat Pyotr Ilyich in a phaeton, in his tailcoat and a white tie, and took him to photographer Fedetsky’. A month later, Tchaikovsky wrote to Ilya Slatin, who had invited him to Kharkiv: ‘I have just received my photographs from Fedetsky. It turns out, he is a first-class photographer; I personally have not seen anyone better than him…’
Later, in one of his letters, Pyotr Ilyich mentioned that ‘it was fun to listen to your own works, knowing that no one in the theater was aware of your presence’. The last time Pyotr Ilyich came to Kharkiv was in March 1893, 7 months before his death. He spent five days in the city. Tchaikovsky conducted two proof concerts (concerts where musicians aim to perfect the specifics of the arrangement) and an open final rehearsal on March 13. The actual concert took place on March 14. When he was not busy at rehearsals, Pyotr attended festive breakfasts and dinners organized by grateful admirers of his talent.
Director of the Kharkiv Music School, Ilya Ilyich Slatin, insisted that the composer came to Kharkiv. It took a while to find the time for the trip, but finally, in March 1893, Pyotr Ilyich visited the city. The arrival of the famous composer caused quite a stir. Tickets to the concert were quickly sold out, and the audience was packed. The concert culminated in a standing ovation. Elated students of the music school sat Tchaikovsky in a chair and carried him all the way to the exit.
Then, ‘members of the Musical Society (…) sat Pyotr Ilyich in a phaeton, in his tailcoat and a white tie, and took him to photographer Fedetsky’. A month later, Tchaikovsky wrote to Ilya Slatin, who had invited him to Kharkiv: ‘I have just received my photographs from Fedetsky. It turns out, he is a first-class photographer; I personally have not seen anyone better than him…’
The composer first visited Kharkiv in 1884. Then, a year later, he returned for a short while to take a break from his admirers and spend a day alone in a new city. On October 26, the composer booked a box at the theater and listened to his own works, unrecognized by anyone, performed by the famous singer Selena Motte.
Later, in one of his letters, Pyotr Ilyich mentioned that ‘it was fun to listen to your own works, knowing that no one in the theater was aware of your presence’. The last time Pyotr Ilyich came to Kharkiv was in March 1893, 7 months before his death. He spent five days in the city. Tchaikovsky conducted two proof concerts (concerts where musicians aim to perfect the specifics of the arrangement) and an open final rehearsal on March 13. The actual concert took place on March 14. When he was not busy at rehearsals, Pyotr attended festive breakfasts and dinners organized by grateful admirers of his talent.
