Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck Born 1831 was a wealthy Russian widow best known for her relationship with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. She was also active in providing financial support to Nikolai Grigoryevich Rubinstein, Claude Debussy, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Early Life
Born into the Frolovsky family which had large landholdings. From an early age her father Filaret Frolovsky embraced a love of music. In 1847 she married Karl von Meck . Together they had 18 children of whom 11 survived into adulthood.
Business Success of Karl Von Meck
In the years following their marriage Mr. Von Meck ended up becoming a multimillionare though his work in the railroad industry.
Unfortunately Mr. Von Meck died in 1871 leaving Ms. Von Meck in charge is his vast financial holdings. Which in turn allowed her to become a major patron for the arts.
Support of the Performing Arts
In the years following Mr. Von Meck's death she became increasingly involved in supporting the performing arts through providing financial support to composers such as Nikolay Rubinstein, and Claude Debussy.
Relationship with Tchaikovsky
In 1877 she began a platonic relationship Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky despite her insistence on the two not meeting the two carried on a significant correspondence which lasted until 1890. They did encounter each other on two occasions, purely by chance, but did not converse.
As their relationship developed she subsequently provided him with a financial allowance large enough (6000 rubles a year) so that he could leave his professorship at the Moscow Conservatory to focus on his creative work full time.
As well as financial support, she expressed her interest in his musical career and admiration for his music. Her feedback became so important to Tchaikovsky that after the critics lambasted his 5th Symphony she provided him with the perserverance to carry forward.
However, she abruptly cut off her support for the composer. It is widely believed that she did so because she found out about Tchaikovsky's homosexuality. It is possible she was planning to marry off one of her daughters to Tchaikovsky, as she also tried unsuccessfully to marry one of them to Claude Debussy, who had lived in Russia for a time as music teacher to her family.
Dedication to Nadezhda von Meck
Tchaikovsky as a sign of appreciation dedicated his fourth symphony, and Pokhoronnyi march to her.
Donation by Galina Nikolaevna Von Meck
In 1985 Galina Nikolaeva Meck donated to Columbia University a collection of paper's in her possession. The paper's donated include von Meck's translation of 681 letters written by P.I. Tchaikovsky to his family covering the years March 1861 to September 1893.
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