Tchaikovsky
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Tat'iana Davydova (1861–1887)

Tat'iana Davydova

Niece of the composer (b. 6/18 September 1861 in Kamenka; d. 19/31 January 1887 in Saint Petersburg), born Tat'iana L'vovna Davydova (Татьяна Львовна Давыдова, Tat'jana L'vovna Davydova, Tat'yana L'vovna Davidova).

Tat'iana was the eldest child of the composer's sister Aleksandra (b. Tchaikovskaia, 1842–1891) and her husband Lev Davydov (1837–1896).

Tchaikovsky was close to his niece (whom he knew as "Tania"), and when in 1883 she became pregnant by Stanislav Mikhailovich Blumenfel'd (1850–1897), the composer and his brother Modest were the only two members of the family to be entrusted with the secret; they took Tat'iana to Paris, and arranged her medical care. After she gave birth to a boy, Georges-Léon, the composer himself registered the child's birth, organised his baptism, and provided financial support. Tchaikovsky also helped to arrange Georges-Léon's eventual adoption by his brother Nikolai.

Tat'iana Davydova died suddenly on 19/31 January 1887 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, aged 25. She was buried in the cemetery at the Aleksandr Nevskii Monastery in Saint Petersburg, although the grave site has not been preserved.

Tchaikovsky's works dedicated to Tat'iana Davydova:

• Six Duets, Op. 46 (1880).

Tchaikovsky's correspondence with Tat'iana Davydova:

• 2 letters from Tchaikovsky to Tat'iana Davydova have survived, dating from 1878 to 1881.