Composer of the Week - Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) - Episode 3

Donald Macleod takes a series of snapshots of a period that lay at the centre of Tchaikovsky's creative life, from 1876 to 1890. 1877 had been a wretched year for Tchaikovsky. His marriage had gone hideously wrong in a matter of days and had left deep emotional scars. But the following year, things began to look up. He left his job at the Moscow Conservatoire, which had been a millstone around his neck, and correspondence now flourished between Tchaikovsky and his 'best friend', the wealthy widow Nadhezda von Meck. The fact that he was now solvent, owing to a monthly allowance from her, must have helped. Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (excerpt, The Lord's Prayer) St Petersburg Chamber Choir Nikolai Korniev (conductor) Philips 473 069-2 CD1, Tr 8 Maid of Orleans (excerpt from Act 1 conclusion) Joan of Arc ...... Sofia Preobrazhenskaya (soprano) Orchestra and Chorus of the Kirov Boris Khaikin (conductor) MYTO 992.H028 CD1, Trs 8-10 Violin Concerto in D, Op 35 Gidon Kremer (violin) Berlin Philharmonic Lorin Maazel (conductor) DG 459 043-2, Trs 1-3 Amid the din of the ball; It was in the early spring, Op 38 Joan Rodgers (soprano) Roger Vignoles (piano) Hyperion CDA 66617, Tr 5.