Great Composers in Words & Music: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

Nicholas Boulton

2023-05-26 • Classical

Tracklist

• 1
  Introduction
  0:08
• 2
  Swan Lake, Op. 20, Act II: By a Lake: The swans swim on the lake (Excerpt)
  1:18
• 3
  Can there be music more instantly recognisable, more wildly popular, more beautifully scored?…
  6:44
• 4
  Marche slave, Op. 31 (Excerpt)
  0:53
• 5
  We heard an extract from Tchaikovsky's 1876 orchestral piece Marche slave…
  4:20
• 6
  Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act II Scene 6: Aria. Vedrai, carino (Excerpt)
  1:12
• 7
  Tchaikovsky's arrival at the preparatory school in St Petersburg…
  4:56
• 8
  My Genius, My Angel, My Friend
  1:54
• 9
  Tchaikovsky graduated from the School of Jurisprudence on 25 May 1859…
  6:44
• 10
  Groza, Op. 76 (Excerpt)
  2:01
• 11
  On graduation at the end of 1865, Tchaikovsky was offered the role of music theory teacher at the soon-to-open Moscow Conservatory…
  5:41
• 12
  Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17 "Little Russian": I. Andante sostenuto - Allegro vivo (Excerpt)
  1:34
• 13
  Around this time, the early 1870s, Tchaikovsky enjoyed some success as an aspiring composer…
  4:28
• 14
  Oprichnik, Act I: Pochudilis' mne budito golosa i shum shagov (Excerpt)
  1:22
• 15
  Towards the end of 1874, the same year in which The Oprichnik premiered…
  2:52
• 16
  Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23: I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito (Excerpt)
  2:38
• 17
  The mid-1870s witnessed the further development of Tchaikovsky's career…
  5:02
• 18
  Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36: I. Andante sostenuto - Moderato con anima (Excerpt)
  1:08
• 19
  In the years that followed his ill-fated marriage, Tchaikovsky became reclusive…
  1:10
• 20
  1812 Festival Overture, Op. 49 (Excerpt)
  1:30
• 21
  In the mid-1880s, Tchaikovsky decided to return to the Moscow region and settle down…
  2:55
• 22
  Suite No. 4 in G Major, Op. 61 "Mozartiana": III. Preghiera. Andante non tanto (Excerpt)
  1:23
• 23
  In the final years of Tchaikovsky's life, his compositional pace seemed to increase…
  1:38
• 24
  The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, Act I: Valse (Excerpt)
  1:10
• 25
  A second example from the ballet illustrates Tchaikovsky's characteristically atmospheric musical style…
  0:42
• 26
  The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, Act II: Panorama (Excerpt)
  1:25
• 27
  Tchaikovsky's third and final ballet, The Nutcracker, was premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre on 18 December 1892…
  1:20
• 28
  The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II Tableau 3: Coda
  1:18
• 29
  Although the Tsar, present at the final dress rehearsal…
  4:18
• 30
  Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique": IV. Finale. Adagio lamentoso (Excerpt)
  1:53