Tchaikovsky was one of the leading Russian composer of the late 19th century whose works are notable for their melodic inspiration and their orchestration. He is regarded as the master composer for classical ballet, as demonstrated by his scores for ‘Swan Lake’, ‘The Nutcracker’, and ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Among the most subjective of composers, Tchaikovsky is inseparable from his music. His work is a manifestation, sometimes charming, often showy, and occasionally vulgar, of repressed feelings (originating prehaps from his personal life), that became more and more despairing in later years and culminated in the composition of the ‘Sixth Symphony’, one of the greatest symphonic works of its time.

Though unequal, his music shows a wealth of melodic inspiration and imagination and a flair for orchestration. Its lapses of taste are partly redeemed by enormous technical efficiency. Though his later work rejected conscious Russian nationalism, its underlying sentiment and character are as distinctively Russian as that of the Russian nationalist composers. Tchaikovsky's success in bridging the gulf between the musician and the general public partly accounts for the position he enjoys in Russia.

No composer since Tchaikovsky has suffered more from changes of fashion or from the extremes of over and undervaluation. On the one hand, he achieved an enormous popularity with a wide audience, largely through his more emotional works; on the other, the almost hypnotic effect that he was able to induce led to serious questioning of his true musical quality. He is certainly the greatest master of the classical ballet. The symphonies may be variable in quality but all contain important music. The last three are deservedly famous, though to these should be added the neglected Manfred Symphony. The First Piano Concerto and the Violin Concerto, on the other hand, deserve a higher reputation than vehicles for virtuosity. Notable among his other orchestral works are the early Romeo and Juliet Overture and the exquisite Serenade for Strings. Of the operas, Eugene Onegin is a masterpiece and The Queen of Spades dramatically effective. His string quartets are excellent, but his piano music is largely undistinguished. His numerous songs include several fine examples.