Tchaikovsky, P.: Symphony No. 5 / The Nutcracker Suite
3/1/2009, 12 Tracks, 1:09:17
Featuring
Sir Roger Norrington
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Did you know?
1/7
Composition History
Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, composed in 1888, was initially met with some doubt from the composer himself, particularly regarding its controversial, triumphantly heroic finale.
Composer Biography
Tchaikovsky's biography was manipulated, with material destroyed or altered, because his homosexuality did not suit the leaders of the Revolution.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Tchaikovsky was aware of the aesthetic debate surrounding 'absolute music' and usually concealed the underlying programs of his works from the public, only sharing them with close friends.
Historical Context
Musicologists could only begin to access and work through long-inaccessible documents about Tchaikovsky after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Tchaikovsky's symphonies independently developed the Romantic 'sinfonia caratteristica', often using a memorable opening motto and waltzes as lyrical elements.
Critical Reception
Alexander Poznansky's study, 'Tschaikowskys Tod' (1998), which detailed Tchaikovsky's natural death from cholera, has been largely ignored, as many object to the debunking of established legends.
Compositional Technique
Tchaikovsky often incorporated Russian folk music into his works, aligning his compositions with the 'ethno-Romanticism' of the late 19th century.
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