Hello,
It's been casually rumored that the young Stravinsky once met
Tchaikovsky, is this true? I don't think it is because Stravinsky was born
in 1882 and Tchaikovsky died in 1893, making him 11 years old at the time
of Tchaikovsky's untimely death. At this time, Stravinsky wasn't a famous
composer yet. Does anyone have any information on this?
Thanks,
Michael Svoboda
Stravinsky's father, Fyodor, was a baritone with the Imperial Opera
company at the Mariinskii Theatre in Saint Petersburg, and he took part in
the premieres of several of Tchaikovsky's operas in the Russian capital,
and would have been personally acquainted with the composer. Young Igor
was apparently brought by his father to the premiere of the Pathëtique
symphony in Saint Petersburg in 1893, with Tchaikovsky conducting, and he
said many years afterwards that this had made a great impression on him.
But (from memory, which could be wrong), I don't think that Igor was ever
personally introduced to Tchaikovsky.
Hope this helps,
Brett Langston
Another incident that Stravinsky recalled is what I believe took place
in Tchaikovsky's last week of life...I believe during the intermission of
"A Life for the Tsar", young Stravinsky was with his mother when she
pointed out the famous composer to her son in the foyer...that image
stayed with Stravinsky throughout his life....he would have been eleven
then....
Albert Gasparo
Regarding the relationship between Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky,
Stravinsky himself states in his "An Autobiography" 1936, the extent of
this encounter....he states that when he went to hear the fiftieth
anniversary performance of "Ruslan and Ludmilla" in which his father took
part he caught a glimpse of Tchaikovsky in the foyer.."whom I had never
seen before and never was to see again"....he had just conducted the first
performance of the "Pathetique"...this would place the incident in the
last week of Tchaikovsky's life....he continues..."a fortnight later my
mother took me to a concert where the same symphony was played in memory
of its composer, who had been suddenly carried off by cholera"....he says
also..it "would become one of my most treasured memories."....he would
have been 11 at the time.....that in sum is as far as it went....Albert
Gasparo
Albert Gasparo
Thank you Mr. Gasparo for that additional information. I can only
imagine how Stravinsky felt during that moments when he caught a glimpse
of the famous composer. Indeed I would give anything to relive moments
such as those, among others. It would be even better to have stumbled upon
a possible video recording of Tchaikovsky, but I'm sure that's not even
possible. Haha.
Thanks,
Michael Svoboda