Two Curios
Donald Macleod presents curious tale of Tchaikovsky's strange Moscow Cantata of 1883, and introduces the bold two-movement Concert Fantasia.
Alongside Tchaikovsky's many celebrated compositions, there are a host of rare and obscure works that barely see the concert stage - but surely none as peculiar as the "Moscow Cantata" of 1883, a work composed to order for the coronation of the new Tsar Alexander III.and barely performed since.
Donald Macleod presents the curious tale of one of the strangest works in the great composer's entire output, and introduces another bold experiment from Tchaikovsky's 'lost decade' - his two-movement "Concert Fantasia" for piano and orchestra.
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Music Played
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Sixteen Songs For Children, Op.54 (1881-3) (excerpt) (From Vol. II of Complete Songs)
Performer: Ljuba Kazarnovskaya (soprano), Ljuba Orfenova (piano)
- NAXOS 8554358.
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
"Moscow": Coronation Cantata for Tsar Alexander III (1883)
Performer: Mariinsky Orchesta and Chorus / Valery Gergiev (released Dec 2009)
- MARIINSKY MAR0503.
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Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Concert Fantasia for piano and orchestra, Op.56 (1884)
Performer: Peter Donohoe (piano) Performer: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai
- EMI 5855402.
Broadcasts
- Thu 14 Oct 201012:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 14 Oct 201022:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 5 May 201112:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 5 May 201118:30BBC Radio 3
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