Wayward Niece, Favourite Nephew
Donald Macleod explores the difficult events of 1883, when Tchaikovsky was called on to deal with a family crisis and his self-destructive love for his own nephew.
Just as he was struggling to cope with his own domestic affairs, in 1883 Tchaikovsky found himself - entirely unwillingly - having to deal with a family crisis, as his wayward, morphine-addled niece Tanya arrived in Paris, heavily pregnant with an illegitimate child. Uncle Pyotr was called upon to sort out the mess - just as he was falling heavily - self-destructively - in love with Tanya's brother, his own nephew Bob.
Meanwhile, the composer was struggling with what was to become perhaps his favourite opera - though one little performed today: the tale of the Cossack warrior Mazeppa.
Donald Macleod presents excerpts from the opera, as well as a complete performance of Tchaikovsky's Second Suite for Orchestra - as the composer ditched his familiar symphonic form for a daring new exploration of dance, melody and colour.
Last on
Music Played
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Valse Sentimentale, Op.51 no.6 (1881) (arr. Harjanne)
Performer: Jouko Harjanne (trumpet)
- FINLANDIA 0927492522.
- 12.
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Mazeppa (excerpt)
Performer: Sergej Larin (Andrei) Performer: Galina Gorchakova (Maria) Performer: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra / Neemi Järvi
- DEUTCHE GRAMMOPHON 4399062.
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Suite no.2 for orchestra, Op.53 (1883)
Performer: New Philharmonia / Antal Dorati
- PHILIPS 4561882.
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
"The Crown Of Roses" (1881-3)
Performer: The Choir Of King’s College / Sir David Willcocks
- DECCA 4448482.
Broadcasts
- Wed 13 Oct 2010 12:00
- Wed 13 Oct 2010 22:00
- Wed 4 May 2011 12:00
- Wed 4 May 2011 18:30
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