This website contains a massive amount of material regarding the life, career, and compositions of André Tchaikowsky, a Polish-born musician who died in 1982 and famously bequeathed his scull to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in Hamlet (and they accepted). This website represents the life work of David Ferre, who spent 30 years amassing this valuable archive. David passed away in 2020 and we are now seeking a qualified person or institution to continue the guardianship of this website.

Introduction

I'm Robert, David's brother. In his memory, I intend to keep this web page current until such time as we hand it off to someone willing to care for it and take it into the future. Please inform me of relevant events or information that should be included herein. (robert--at--robertferre--dot com).

CONCERTO CLASSICO

On February 5, 2021, the world premier of André Tchaikowsky's Concerto Classico for violin and orchestra was performed in Warsaw by the National Philharmonic Orchestra. HERE IS MY REVIEW.

Listen to the concert using this link to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4KwUBlB06Q

"I think André Tchaikowsky is one of the finest pianists of his generation -- he is even better than that -- he is a wonderful musician."
Arthur Rubinstein, pianist

"I've known most of the really good and great musicians of my generation. He was the best musician of them all."
Stephen Kovacevich, pianist

"André had magic about him and the extraordinary rare ability to dust this magic onto everybody."
Judy Arnold, former personal representative

"If he had been a different character, he could have had a very, very major career."
Terry Harrison, former manager

"It's a great pity that as a legacy he left very few things behind."
Peter Frankl, pianist

Welcome
This website is a product of the many friends, family, and admirers of the pianist and composer, André Tchaikowsky (1935 - 1982). (In Poland, Andrzej Czajkowski.) Here you can read about his life using the Biography link, find out more about André as Composer and Pianist, and learn about his Recordings for RCA and Columbia.

An extensive Photographs section covers André from his first known photograph to his last, while the Miscellaneous provides items such as a BCC program dedicated to his memory, A Study in Contrasts, hosted by pianist David Owen Norris, and the complete story of André's gift of his skull to the Royal Shakespeare Company for use in Hamlet.

We are always seeking your André recollections, any André memorabilia that you wish to share, and your own thoughts about André as composer and pianist. Use the Contribute link.

John Amis asks André Tchaikowsky if he is related to the great Russian composer:

Click for mp3 file: areyourelated.mp3