Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) studied music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory established by Anton Rubinstein, completing his studies there to become a member of the teaching staff at the similar institution established in Moscow by Anton Rubinstein's brother Nikolay.
He was able to withdraw from teaching when a rich widow, Nadezhda von Meck, offered him financial support which continued for much of his life, although, according to the original conditions of the pension, they never met.
His music is thoroughly Russian in character, but, although he was influenced by Balakirev and the ideals of the Five Russian nationalist composers (with Cui, Borodine, Rimski-Korsakov and Moussorgski), he may be seen as belonging rather to the more international school of composition fostered by the Conservatories.
He died of cholera from drinking contaminated water; whether he drank the water out of carelessness or on purpose is still unclear.
