On March 11, the Russian House in Brussels invites you to a lecture by Denis Von Meck as part of the Historical Club series.
Language: English
Denis von Meck is a direct descendant of the von Meck, Tchaikovsky, and Davydov families; a family historian, collector, and publisher; curator of the virtual museum von-meck.info; and co-founder of educational foundations, including von-meck.org. He is also the head of the international cultural diplomacy project “Tchaikovsky – Music Without Visas,” whose general information partner is TASS.
Musical illustrations will be performed by Olga Bobrovnikova — an outstanding pianist and the author of the musical piece.
Denis Andreyevich will present rare photographs and an engaging narrative about the role of several women in the composer’s personal and creative life — in childhood and youth, as well as in his mature years. Fortunate and tragic destinies, inspiring and dramatic stories. What unites the heroines of his most significant works? To whom was Pyotr Ilyich deeply grateful, and whom did he wish to forget?
The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions to one of the most active researchers of the life and work of the great Russian composer, who has given more than Nations Headquarters in New York. Guests will also be able to literally touch living 1,000 lectures in 80 cities across 20 countries, including at the United history — to see original 19th-century photographs of Tchaikovsky and his relatives from the family archive.
The fate of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is inseparable from the women who played a key role in his life and creative work. The lecture will focus on the composer’s mother, his sister, and his outstanding patroness — women whose love, support, and inspiration were reflected in the music of this genius.
Alexandra Andreyevna Tchaikovskaya (née Assier) (1813–1854) created in the family a special atmosphere imbued with the spirit of culture and art. In the evenings, she played the piano and sang — these musical impressions became the first and most powerful experiences of the future composer. She taught her son music theory and piano. Her early death from cholera was a devastating blow to Tchaikovsky: his longing for his mother accompanied him throughout his life.
Alexandra Ilyinichna Tchaikovskaya (Davydova) (1843–1891), the composer’s younger sister, shared with her brother from childhood both joys and sorrows and was closely involved in his dreams and creative plans. At the Kamenka estate near Kyiv, Tchaikovsky spent many summers, finding support and inner balance there. He dedicated the “Valse-Scherzo” for piano to his sister — a sign of special affection and gratitude.
A special place in Tchaikovsky’s life was held by Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck. From 1877 onward, she provided the composer with generous financial support, enabling him to leave his professorship at the Moscow Conservatory and devote himself entirely to composition. In gratitude, Tchaikovsky dedicated his Fourth Symphony to her, inscribing on the score: “Dedicated to my best friend.” However, in 1890, when von Meck’s financial situation declined, their long-standing correspondence and relationship came to an abrupt end.
The lecture will reveal lesser-known pages of the composer’s biography and offer a fresh perspective on his music — through the prism of the women who inspired and supported one of the world’s greatest composers.
