Although we often think of an artist's work as a window into their own inner world, that is not always the case. In the life of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, however, we can see perhaps the closest link to be found anywhere between a creative product and the shifting moods of a turbulent soul, which found its outlet through the glorious music created by the great Russian composer. To know his music, you must know the man, and this fast-moving series

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Throughout his career as composer, conductor, and pianist, Sergei Rachmaninoff [Rachmaninov] (1873-1943) was an intensely private individual. This book lifts the veil of secrecy from several areas of Rachmaninoff's life, especially concerning the genesis of his compositions and how their critical reception affected him. The authors consult a number of people who knew Rachmaninoff, who worked with him, and who corresponded with him. Even with the availabilty...

The musical child of Russia's golden age, Sergei Rachmaninoff, was the last great romantic. Scorned by the musical establishment until very recently, his music received hostile reviews from critics and other composers. Conversely, it never failed to find widespread popular acclaim. Michael Scott's book investigates Rachmaninoff's intense and often melodramatic life, following him from imperial Russia to his years of exile as a wandering virtuoso and...

Describes the music of Tchaikovsky within the context of his life.