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
![]()
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Valse Sentimentale, Op.51 no.6 (1881) (arr. Harjanne)
Performer: Jouko Harjanne (trumpet)
- FINLANDIA 0927492522.
- 12.
![]()
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Mazeppa (excerpt)
Performer: Sergej Larin (Andrei) Performer: Galina Gorchakova (Maria) Performer: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra / Neemi Järvi
- DEUTCHE GRAMMOPHON 4399062.
![]()
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Suite no.2 for orchestra, Op.53 (1883)
Performer: New Philharmonia / Antal Dorati
- PHILIPS 4561882.
![]()
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 201012:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 13 Oct 201022:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 4 May 201112:00BBC Radio 3
- Wed 4 May 201118:30BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
