Tchaikovsky’s music has always been much appreciated by virtue of its tuneful, open-hearted melodies, impressive harmonies, and colourful, picturesque orchestration. This concert explores some of the different moods in his works. The Capriccio was written whilst he visited a carnival in Italy and the result was a joyful fantasia of cheerful melodies. James Willshire joins us to play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 which displays a love of folk music from its majestic opening chords to the inclusion of a Ukrainian folk song in the finale, and is an eternal favourite. Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique), explores the theme of ‘life’ which underlies the work from love to nervous tension, and from dance to despair.
