1885–1888

Abstract

Two months into 1885, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was leading a new life. The most potent change was putting down roots. This was important for the benefits of domesticity and relief from wandering. It marked the onset of his civic duty, supporting enterprises still threatened by Nikolay Grigorievich Rubinstein's death. As the leading Russian composer of his time, he decided now to promote his music by conducting, while Pyotr Ivanovich Jurgenson formalized licensing agreements for Tchaikovsky's works in Paris and Hamburg. He also took advantage of imperial favor, requesting that the emperor build a new opera house in Tiflis and engaging Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich in correspondence. No less important was the mentorship of Ivan Alexandrovich Vsevolozhsky, the Director of the Imperial Theaters, who had shown interest in Tchaikovsky's work since coming to the post in 1881 and whose advocacy would rival that of Nikolay Grigorievich Rubinstein.