Tchaikovsky's been struggling with money all his life. In 1877-1890, the composer was assisted by Nadezhda von Meck, thanks to which he had an annual content of 6000 rubles. Over time, Tchaikovsky began to receive a decent income for publishing and performing his works. But numerous expenses, endless relatives and scholars, whose training Tchaikovsky paid, did not allow him to get out of debt. Two months after the accession of Alexander III to the throne Tchaikovsky wrote a letter to the chief prosecutor of the Holy Synod of Victory. He immediately gave the Emperor a request from the composer:
A few days later, the Emperor informed Pobedonostsev: "I send you for the transfer of Tchaikovsky - 3000 p. Tell him that he may not return the money. A[lexander]". Having received the telegram, the composer has written out on its back all debts. However, to cover them, there was not enough 600 rubles.
Tchaikovsky often visited museums, visited Pompeii and Niagara Falls, climbed the newly built Eiffel Tower, and in general was very interested in everything he saw. The composer found himself in Baku at the end of May 1887: he sailed across the Caspian Sea from Astrakhan, thus completing his journey along the Volga. He stayed in the city just 24 hours, waiting for the train to Tiflis, where he had to go by the newly built railway. During this time the composer had time to see Baku - he wrote about his impressions in his diary:
On January 7 (19), 1892 in Hamburg opera the premiere of the opera "Eugene Onegin" took place. Gustav Mahler, 32, the greatest composer and conductor of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, conducted the opera. The composer himself was also present at the event and received a box of vodka from the Impresario and the director of the opera, Bernhard Pollini, as a gift. However, it was not easy to get it: problems arose at customs, and Tchaikovsky asked his friend, publisher Pyotr Yurgenson, who conducted his business, to help understand. In a reply letter, Yurgenson complained: "Your vodka has been sent in a mysterious way: "Everything is here if there is no deception. And only two months later Tchaikovsky received the joyful news: "Vodka is finally received, it seems, bottles of 30, I did not take them out of the box. I pulled out one bottle, burning with the desire to know the miraculous power of this elixir.
In mid-March 1893, having returned from long travels across Europe, a concert in Brussels and a two-week tour in Odessa, Tchaikovsky completed sketches of the Sixth "Pathetic" Symphony, is taken for the composition of piano pieces and romances. In his letters, the composer repeatedly notes that he writes for profit, calling his opuses "early-maturing and unimportant children". Tchaikovsky hoped to get more money for more works when publishing them. As a result, two cycles were born - Eighteen Pieces for Piano, Op. 72, and Six Romances to Poems by Daniel Ratgaus, Op. 73. These pieces, created six months before his death, were the composer's last works. In principle, Tchaikovsky failed to rectify his financial situation: despite his demand and worldwide fame, he was never able to acquire his own home, and he died being duly paid a large sum to his own servant.
To me there was a Russian acquaintance sailor, who reported the terrible news of the tragic death of the Emperor. I was so amazed at the news that I almost fell ill. In such terrible moments of national disaster, in such shameful cases Russia is difficult to be in a foreign country. I wanted to fly to Russia, to find out the details, to be among my own, to take part in sympathetic demonstrations to the new sovereign and together with others to cry out for revenge. Won't this time too be the root of a disgusting ulcer in our political life? It is terrible to think that perhaps the last catastrophe is not yet an epilogue of this tragedy
Like you, a great supporter of our dynasty, I love the Emperor with all my heart, I have a great sympathy for the heir - and, like you, I am grieved about the way the government is governed, from which all the weaknesses, all the dark sides of our political development occur. <...> How would Russia liven up if the Emperor finished his wonderful reign by giving us political rights! Let them not say that we are not ripe for constitutional forms