Composer of the Week

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Part Three

Wednesday 14 December 2005 12:00-13:00 (Radio 3)

Repeated: Wednesday 28 December 2005 0:00-1:00 (Radio 3)

Tchaikovsky's state of mind with regard to his work could veer between ecstatic optimism and despairing doubt. These mood swings often, as Donald Macleod discovers, severely affected the composer's life and music.

Duration:

1 hour

Playlist

It's painful, it's sweet Op. 6, No. 3
Ljuba Kazarnovskaya (soprano) and Ljuba Orfenova (piano)
Naxos 8555371
Track 1

Marche Slave Op 31
Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert Von Karajan
Deutsche Grammophon 4191762
Track 7

Elegie - First Movement from Suite No. 3 Op.55
Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi
Chandos CHAN9419

Excerpt from end of Act 2, Tableau 2 of The Oprichnik
Prince Vjaz'minskij Vladimir Ognovenko (baritone)
Andrej Morozov Vsevolod Grivnov (tenor)
Basmanov Alexandra Durseneva (alto)
Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Lirico de Cagliari conducted by Gennadi Rozhdestvensky
Dynamic CDS430
CD2 Tracks 9-10

Allegro Brillante - Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 75
Mikhail Pletnev (piano), The Philharmonia conducted by Vladimir Fedoseyev
Virgin Classics VBD5614632
CD2 Track 4
Duration: 14.36

Composer of the Week

Episode and Playlist Information

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
  • Part One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three
  • Part Four
  • Part Five