"Besides his symphonies and concertos, operas and ballets, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote 103 "romances," or songs, which are among his most popular works in Russia. The lyrics to these songs, by poets famous and obscure, have never before been studied. Richard D. Sylvester collects here all 103 song texts, reproducing them in Russian, with transliterations and translations.

The texts are illuminated by commentaries on the songs' historical context and performance histories, an extensive discography of singers and recordings, and a 73-minute CD that includes performances by noted artists of 22 songs. For Tchaikovsky specialists, Tchaikovsky's Complete Songs provides significant new information.

For vocalists and students of music, for the general audience interested in art songs and recordings of great singers, as well as for students of Russian language and literature, this book offers a unique window into Russian musical culture."--BOOK JACKET.