In 1877,

1877,

Pjotrievich Tchaikovsky was a musical star on the rise. He had just finished writing his first piano concerto, a piece of music that would become

so famous musicians would come to call it the chike.

But at this point, it wasn't famous, and neither was he.

Tchaikovsky's main gig was teaching at the Moscow Conservatory of Music.

He was 37 years old, handsome, with kind eyes and dark hair that he kept swept

away from his forehead. He had to try and find time for composing outside of his classes at the conservatory and he organized

organized concerts on a shoestring budget.

Time and money were tight,

but he was making it work.

And he didn't know it yet, but this would be a big year,

one that would change his life forever.

He was about to receive two very strange letters.

One was the beginning of a love story.

The other would lead to what he considered the biggest mistake of his life.

I'm Jade Simmons and this is decomposed.

We bring you the stories that have shaped classical music,

the heartbreaks, the betrayals,

and the acts of sheer genius that changed everything.

Chikovsky is famous for giving the world some of the most romantic music we have.

The fantasy overture for Romeo and Juliet.

...