Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s diary, 1890

This morning I had a letter from Alexis. He says Theklousha (his wife) prays God to take her soon. Poor, poor sufferer! Began the fifth scene, and in imagination I…

Heard from Alexis. Theklousha is dead. I wept. Altogether a sad morning.... In the evening an act from Puritani. With all his glaring defects, Bellini is…

Finished everything this morning. God be praised, Who has let me bring my work to an end.