Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme reflects his deep admiration for Mozart, whom he revered above all and called the 'Christ of music'.
Recording & Production
This recording features the Soviet-published 1956 edition of Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, which restores the variations to the composer's original plan while retaining some of Fitzenhagen's revisions to the cello part.
Historical Context
Mitrofan Belyayev, a wealthy timber merchant's son, significantly contributed to Russian music by establishing the Glinka Prize, the Russian Symphony Concerts, and a publishing house in Leipzig to secure international copyright for Russian composers.
Composition History
The standard version of Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, Op. 33, was significantly altered by cellist Wilhelm Fitzenhagen, who rearranged movements, added endings, and even omitted a variation, much to the composer's publisher's dismay.
Composer Biography
Alexander Glazunov, a child prodigy, began composition lessons with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov at age 14, who noted his ability to learn by the hour.
Composer Biography
Alexander Glazunov, as director of the St Petersburg Conservatory, protected students like Shostakovich during political turmoil, even requesting nourishment for the sickly student.
Composition History
Prokofiev's Concertino, Op. 132, was left incomplete at his death and was finished by composer Dmitry Kabalevsky and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, based on Prokofiev's piano score and Rostropovich's memories of their conversations.
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