Why did Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s operas have less success than his ballets and symphonies?

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s operas generally achieved less success than his symphonies and ballets because they were often eclectic in their subject matter and style, which hindered their reception, particularly in the West. While he is celebrated as a master of instrumental music, only a few of his operas, such as Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades, found lasting appreciation.1

In contrast, Tchaikovsky revolutionized the genre of ballet by elevating it from a decorative gesture to a staged musical drama. He applied a symphonist’s sense of large-scale structure to his ballets, organizing dances with a clear sense of purpose and melodic integration that resonated deeply with audiences. While his symphonic works and ballets are lauded for their unity of melodic inspiration, dramatic content, and mastery of form, his operatic output remained more inconsistent in its appeal.1