The composer
The years leading up to the premiere of the Manfred Symphony in
1886 saw Tchaikovsky enjoying a nomadic existence. Freed from the shackles of his disastrous marriage and, in October 1878, from the post of professor at the Moscow Conservatory, he divided his life between Russia and western Europe, funded by the deep pockets of his long-term patron Nadezhda von Meck. Compositions from this era include his Orchestral Suites Nos 1-3, the Serenade for Strings, the Piano Trio and his famous
1812 Overture.