Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky was initially influenced by the ideas of Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Borodin and Balakirev (who offered him useful criticism), but kept a certain distance while staying cordial. He met his revered Berlioz when Berlioz visited Russia, and on tours of western Europe met Brahms and Grieg (taking to both on the spot), Gounod, and Dvořák (who maintained a warm correspondence, though they kept on just missing each other afterwards). He met Liszt in Bayreuth, but was snubbed by Wagner. He met the 13-year-old Rachmaninoff at his friend Zverev’s, and enthusiastically encouraged him as a composer.