Tchaikovsky was my entry point into loving classical music. My mother had a Boston Pops recording of the Nutcracker Suite and one of the First Piano Concerto. For Christmas one year I asked for a recording of the 1812 Overture. An aunt provided one, with the prediction that I would like the B-side of the album as much or more. She was right -- the other side was Ravel's Bolero. Over the next few years I discovered the symphonies (starting with the 6th) and eventually all the ballets as well.

I had a choir instructor in high school who didn't like Tchaikovsky. As much as I liked and admired him, I could never understand that opinion. For me, he was the door that opened to a new world.