September 4, 2010, 12:25 pm
The question of whether Tchaikovsky committed suicide is and interesting one. One troubling aspect of the cholera theory is that though his body lay in state in his brother's bedroom and was then taken to Kazan Cathedral were hundreds of mourners filed past to pay their respects, not one person was reported as catching the highly contagious disease.
Rumors persist that Tchaikovsky was having a relationship the tzar's son and that Alexander III ordered Tchaikovsky's disappearance (to be poisoned by his doctor, claimed Tchaikovsky's sister-in-law).
Yet another theory has him having an affair with the nephew of a Russian nobleman. There is no doubt that Tchaikovsky was fearful of posterity knowing about the sexuality he himself described as 'unnatural' and a 'vice'. Some suggest he killed himself in despair over his sexuality or from fear of it's disclosure.
What's your opinion?
They sure can, Alberich.
Yes, you're right Alberich. He knew his time was up and so therefore, entered his last thought's into a Symphony.