Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) was a revolutionary Russian composer whose compositions changed the musical world forever. The son of an ordinary mining engineer, Tchaikovsky grew up to become one of the most influential composers in history. He was a professor of music theory and harmony at one of Russia's most esteemed music conservatories and toured throughout the United States and Western Europe. He wrote eleven operas, six symphonies, four concerts, three ballets, three string quartets and numerous other works in a relatively short time of only thirty years of active composition ("Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky"). His characteristic eloquent melodies and expressive supporting harmonies made him world famous and were "the epitome of the opulence of late Russian music" ("Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky"). Today he continues to be world-famous for his world-famous ballet The Nutcracker (1892) and his virtuosic concert Violin Concerto in D major (1881). Even more impressive is the fact that Tchaikovsky, as successful as he was, faced many difficulties in his life. He was emotionally distraught many times throughout his life and, in the worst cases, even considered suicide. However, it is precisely these difficulties that brought out the best in him and helped him excel as a composer. From early childhood Tchaikovsky showed a strong passion and fascination for music. Born on May 7, 1840 in Votkinsk, Russia, and the son of a successful mining engineer, Tchaikovsky received a solid education and took piano lessons from the age of 5. In his youth and for the rest of his life Tchaikovsky idolized Mozart's music. , which was not very famous or well-known in Russia at the time. His parents, who supported their child's musical... middle of paper... ancient, Anthony. Tchaikovsky: a biography. New York: Random House, 1995. Print.Longyear, Rey M. “Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky.” Great Lives from History: The Nineteenth Century. Ed. John Powell. 4 vols. Salem Press, 2007. Salem History Web. November 28, 2011. “Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky.” EBSCOhost: The world's leading research database service. Columbia University Press, nd Web. November 28, 2011."Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Biography: Life, Family, Parents, Story, Death, Wife, School, Mother, Son." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Np, nd Web. December 1, 2011. .Poznansky, Alexander. Tchaikovsky: The Search for the Inner Man. New York: Schirmer Books, 1991. Print.Williams, Edward. "Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich." World book encyclopedia. 2010 ed. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2010. 61-62. Press.