Tchaikovsky was one of the first people to perceive Chekhov’s genius, and unusually took the step of becoming personally acquainted with the writer, despite his shy and retiring nature. The admiration was mutual, and the much younger Chekhov was proud to dedicate a story collection to the great composer. This Special Interest Day explores why Tchaikovsky and Chekhov should have felt such admiration for each other’s work, and examines their lives and careers in the context of late nineteenth-century Russian culture, paying particular attention to the landscape paintings of Levitan, whose name is often mentioned in the same breath.
