Russia doesn’t want you to listen to this podcast

QueerAF Podcast: Season 3, Episode 8 – 125 years after his death, the world still celebrates Tchaikovsky’s music, but Russia continues to deny his truth. Reporter Patrick Reardon-Morgan explores the life of one of history’s most iconic composers, uncovering the joy, pain, and repression that shaped both the man and his music – listen now

In this episode: 

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky remains one of Russia’s most celebrated cultural figures, with masterpieces like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker still performed and adored across the globe. Yet his homeland continues to deny that he was gay.

Behind those sweeping melodies and explosive symphonies lies the story of a man who lived with both acceptance and secrecy - whose sexuality brought him happiness and heartbreak, and whose legacy has since been rewritten by state-sponsored homophobia.

Patrick Reardon-Morgan asks what it means to reclaim Tchaikovsky’s identity today and why it’s more important than ever to celebrate Russia’s rich, queer history in defiance of censorship and erasure.

Featuring:

• Patrick Reardon-Morgan – Arts Manager and Cardiff University Music graduate
• Jamie Wareham - Journalist and Broadcaster

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