Tchaikovsky is gay

In Tchaikovsky's case, gay men have long upheld the idea that the angst, despair and suffering deemed so apparent in his music's "melodic lyricism" can be directly traced to the struggle of a closeted gay man living in torture with his secret. According to biographer John Wiley, Tchaikovsky was openly gay all his life, feminising the names of the young men he consorted with, as well as referring to himself as “Petrolina”.

Tchaikovsky’s letters provide ample evidence that he was indeed gay, and his family—or at least his brothers—were aware of it. The composer’s younger brothers, Modest and Anatoly, were twins who were ten years younger than him. Tchaikovsky was gay at a time when it was illegal in Russia. His marriage was designed to stop people gossiping about his love life – but it turned into a source of misery and torment for both him and Miliukova.

Yuri Arabov told a Russian newspaper that his adaptation of the 19th century composer's life won't focus on his sexuality because “it is far from a fact that Tchaikovsky was a homosexual," The. The shock that homosexuality has been inherent throughout history is slowly dissipating with the help of modern history dramas that favour gay narratives, yet our society is still surprised to discover some of our most celebrated historical figures were gay.

Nineteenth-century composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky surrounded himself with supportive friends and family members. These loved ones helped the composer navigate the social customs and sexual expectations of his era. His brother Modest , who was his openly gay, was his closest confidant and later biographer. This meant confirming to the idealistic lifestyle of a prosperous young man by becoming well educated, attaining good social standing and finding a suitable wife.

The School of Jurisprudence, an all-boy school, is where historians suspect the Russian composer began to realize his sexual inclinations. His classmate Aleksey Apukhtin later introduced him to the homosexual subculture of St. Petersburg society which further fostered his sexuality. He was undaunted by his sexual discoveries and believed he would have no issue leading a double life as a husband and gay lover.

Tchaikovsky was crushed. Following the failed engagement, Tchaikovsky wrote letters to Modest that he had male interests at the time, one of which was his student Eduard Zak who is thought to have been the muse behind Romeo and Juliet. His student later committed suicide after suffering a series of tragic events.

tchaikovsky swan lake

The hope of maintaining a platonic marriage while pursuing other male lovers proved to be an impossible plan. Tchaikovsky impulsively married Antonina Milyukova , a student who wrote many passionate love letters, but began to experience almost immediate regret towards the end of the wedding day. Within weeks, Tchaikovsky attempted to drown himself in the Moscow River and two months after the wedding, left his wife and withdrew to St.

During his recovery period in Switzerland following the disastrous marriage, he produced his Fourth Symphony and the opera Eugene Onegin —two of his most beloved works. After this period, Tchaikovsky avoided the company of women and began a discreet relationship with his servant Alyosha Sofronov as well as on and off relationships with other men, such as violinist Iosif Kotek.

Yet, novelist E. The composer remained withdrawn from Russian society and traveled through Europe, hardly staying in one place for more than a few months, until his death. In fact, Matthew Bourne addresses issues in relation to contemporary society through his modern version of Swan Lake in Tel Aviv.