George Alexander Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Russian Grand Duke, army officer, and amateur composer (b. 6 June 1859 [N.S.] in Remplin, near Malchin; d. 22 November/5 December 1909 in Saint Petersburg), born Georg Alexander Michael Friedrich Wilhelm Franz Karl Hertog van Mecklenburg-Strelitz; also known in Russia as Georgiy Georgievich Meklenburg-Strelitsky (Георгий Георгиевич Мекленбург-Стрелицкий).
In 1851, George Alexander's father — Duke George August (1824–1876), the youngest son of the ruling Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz — married the Russian Grand Duchess Yekaterina Mikhaylovna (1827–1894), and moved to Russia. George Alexander was their eldest son, and he graduated from two German universities, served in the Russian army as Major General, was a commander of the Life Guards Dragoon regiment, and a knight of the order of Saint Andrew the Apostle. In 1890 he married Natalya Vanlyarskaya (1851–1921), who was created Countess von Carlow.
He also known as an amateur composer, a talented musician (cellist and pianist), and the founder of his own string quartet, and these musical interests resulted in a brief correspondence with Tchaikovsky between 1889 and 1891.
Correspondence with Tchaikovsky
2 letters from Tchaikovsky to George Alexander Mecklenburg-Strelitz have survived, dating from 1889 and 1891, both of which have been translated into English on this website:
- Letter 3930 – 8/20 September 1889, from Frolovskoye
- Letter 4299 – 11/23 January 1891, from Frolovskoye
One letter from Mecklenburg-Strelitz to Tchaikovsky, dating from 5/17 May 1892, is preserved in the Tchaikovsky State Memorial Musical Museum-Reserve at Klin (a4, No. 2829).
