Piotr Il’ych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), A morbid and frequently depressed man who contemplated suicide a number of times, Piotr Il’ych Tchaikovsky was one of the most beloved composers of his or any other day. In addition to the frequently-performed ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky composed several concertos and operas, six symphonies, and numerous short pieces.