Final answer:
Tchaikovsky, unlike The Five, was trained in the Western European tradition and blended these influences with Russian elements, resulting in music that had broader appeal. He did not focus on atonal compositions or minimalist styles but combined Romantic era sensibilities with Russian nationalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky differed from The Five, also known as the "Mighty Handful," in a few significant ways. Fundamentally, Tchaikovsky did not reject traditional Russian folk influences, which is what would distinguish him from the Russian composers known as The Five if any of the choices were to fit. Tchaikovsky was indeed a Russian composer who embraced nationalistic themes in his music, incorporating Russian folk melodies and harmonies, which aligns him with the nationalistic tendencies of The Five. However, what set Tchaikovsky apart was his training and his cosmopolitan approach, blending Western European influences with Russian ones. Unlike The Five, who aimed to create a distinct Russian style of classical music free from the influence of Western European conservatory education, Tchaikovsky was trained in the Russian Conservatory system, which included studying Western European traditions. Therefore, his music often had a broader appeal and was generally more in line with the romantic traditions of Western European music.
While atonality characterizes the works of the modernist Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg, Tchaikovsky composed during the Romantic era and certainly did not focus on atonal compositions. Minimalist styles were not advocated during Tchaikovsky's time either, as this approach to music composition became prominent much later. Thus, the best answer to the question, regarding how Tchaikovsky was different from The Five Russian composers, might be that while they shared a similarity in embracing nationalistic themes, Tchaikovsky had a more internationally-influenced style due to his formal Western training and sensibilities, and was not explicitly part of the nationalistic group of composers that formed The Five.