ABSTRACT
One might well assume that the idea of the Sixth began to crystallize at some time between the tribulations Tchaikovsky suffered with his Life symphony in Berlin, in mid-December 1892, and 4 February 1893. After spending a few days in Berlin, Tchaikovsky's stops included Basel, Montbliard, Paris, Brussels, Paris, Odessa, Kamenka and Kharkov, before his return home to Klin. Basel was a short transitional stop before the exciting destination of Montbliard, beckoning in its very uncertainty, where he was to visit Fanny Durbach, the governess to the Tchaikovsky children from 1844 to 1848. The Kamenka estate was still a working estate maintained by old Davydov's aunts and several other relatives. By 1893, not just Alexandra but also her eldest daughter Tanya had died, and Lev had re-married. Since Lev's ability to support his children was not sufficient, Tchaikovsky felt obliged to help them. He entrusted Tanya's illegitimate child Georgic into the care of his brother Nikolai's family.
