Tchaikovsky's Pathetique and Russian Culture

TchaikovskyEs Sixth Symphony (1893), widely recognized as one of the worldEs most deeply tragic compositions, is also known for the mystery surrounding its hidden programme and for TchaikovskyEs unexpected death nine days after its premiere. While the sensational speculations about the composerEs possible planned suicide and the suggestion that the symphony was intended as his own requiem have long been discarded, the question of its programme remains.