Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 3 / The Tempest

Featuring

Antoni Wit
Narodowa Orkiestra Symfoniczna Polskiego Radia NOSPR
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

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Composition History

Tchaikovsky wrote his Third Symphony, the only one in a major key, in the summer of 1875, completing the scoring in two weeks.

Performer Biography

Antoni Wit, the conductor, was born in 1944, studied with Nadia Boulanger and Penderecki, and won a prize in the 1971 Herbert von Karajan Competition.

Composition History

The suggestion for Tchaikovsky's musical treatment of The Tempest came from Vladimir Stasov, a mentor to nationalist composers, and Tchaikovsky wrote it rapidly over eleven days in 1873.

Composer Biography

Tchaikovsky's relationship with Nadezhda von Meck, a patron, provided financial support and understanding, though they never met face to face.

Notable Performances

The Third Symphony's nickname, "Polish," likely came from a performance at the Crystal Palace concerts under Sir Augustus Manns, referencing the Tempo di Polacca in the last movement.

Performer Biography

The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice (PNRSO) was founded in 1945 by Witold Rowicki and has recorded for many international labels, including the complete Tchaikovsky and Mahler symphonies for Naxos.