Tchaikovsky, Peter, Part II

March 18, 2013, 7:00 pm

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This week, we’ll continue our exploration of Peter Tchaikovsky, focusing on the latter part of his life, including his symphonies, ballets, and life at the Moscow Conservatory. Bill picks up in 1876 with Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 for Cello and Orchestra and we close the week with his Symphony No. 6 in b minor, Pathetique, written in 1893 and premiered just days before his death. This week, Bill tells the story of Tchaikovsky’s failed marriage and his unusual relationship with his patroness Nadezhda von Meck.


Playlist

Episode 1

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini (excerpt)
Cleveland Orch/Chailly
Francesca Da Rimini – Romeo & Juliet
London 414159-2; 1:12

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
Chamber Orch of Europe/Gardiner; Isserlis, violoncello
Rococo Variations – Original Version
Virgin 91134; 18:43

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32
Cleveland Orch/Chailly
Francesca Da Rimini – Romeo & Juliet
London 414159; 22:54

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: April & December + May from The Seasons, Op. 37b
Pletnev, piano
Mussorgsky/ Tchaikovsky
Virgin 82055; 6:17, :54

Episode 2

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in f minor, Op. 36 (excerpts)
Vienna Phil/Kubelik
Kubelík – Artist Profile – Bartók, Martinu, Janácek Et Al
EMI 68223; 1:38, :30, 18:16

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Letter Scene from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24
Orchestre de Paris/Bychkov; Focile, soprano
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin / Bychkov, Hvorostovsky, Focile
Philips 438235-2; 10:56

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, I
Philadelphia Orch/Ormandy; Oistrakh, violin
Shostakovich; Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos
Great Performances 700812; 18:53

Episode 3

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: “Praise ye the Lord from Heavens” from Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Leningrad Glinka Choir/ Chernushenko
Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Russian Disc 11040; 2:34

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Lenski’s Aria from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24
Orchestre de Paris/Bychkov; Shicoff, tenor
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin / Bychkov, Hvorostovsky, Focile
Philips 438235-2; 6:34

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48, IV
Orpheus Chamber Orch
Grieg & Tchaikovsky
DG 423060; 7:06

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in a minor, In Memory of a Great Artist, Op. 50
Argerich, piano; Kremer, violin; Maisky, violoncello
Trios
DG 459326; 18:10

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64 (excerpts)
CSO/Abbado
Tchaikovsky – Complete Symphonies
Sony 87883; 14:36, :26, 1:11

Episode 4

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49 (excerpts)
Moscow Radio Symphony Orch/Fedoseev
1812 Overture, Op. 49, TH 49
JVC 6501; 1:55, 1:25

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Boston Symphony Orch/Davis
Ouverture Solennelle “1812” • Romeo And Juliet • Danses “Eugen Onegin” • “The Oprichnik”
Philips 411448; 20:39

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet (original version excerpts)
Philharmonia Orch/Atlas
Romeo and Juliet
Pickwick 55; :58, 3:19

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64, II + III (excerpt)
CSO/Abbado
Tchaikovsky: 6 Symphonies, Etc / Abbado, Chicago So, Et Al
Sony 88807; 12:42, 2:05

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty Suite (excerpts)
Vienna Phil/Levine
Ballet Suites
DG 437806; 10:12

Episode 5

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony, Op. 58, II
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orch/Masur
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies, Piano Concertos, Etc / Masur, Et Al
Warner Classics 63781; 9:25

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Valse Bluette from Morceaux, Op. 72
Pletnev, piano
Tchaikovsky: Masterworks Edition
DG 428402; 2:23

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in b minor, Pathetique, I & IV
Vienna Phil/Gergiev
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 / Gergiev, Wiener Philharmoniker
Philips 4756317; 18:19, 10:28

Pyotr Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (excerpt)
Berlin Phil/Bychkov
The Christmas Album / Berlin Philharmonic
DG 002583302; 2:42