I love anything by Tchaikovsky. Brahms too. But Tchaikovsky’s music always keeps me engaged more. I read somewhere that Brahms and Tchaikovsky didn’t care for each others music, but they are my two favorite composers. Love their symphonies especially the last three of Tchaikovsky , and the first two of Brahms. The first piano concertos of each. And probably the two greatest violin concertos of all time. Not to mention the other chamber music, and Tchaikovsky’s ballet suites.
Tchaikovsky lived a tortured life as a closet homosexual in 19th century Russia. That’s why his music can be so melancholic and gloomy.