2.5.2011 - Tchaikovsky

[french frank]

This is a repeat.

"Donald Macleod investigates a little-known 'lost decade' in the middle of Tchaikovsky's life, a period the composer spent aimlessly wandering around Europe writing songs, chamber works and even religious choral music, as he struggled to come to terms with his sexuality - and his calling as a musician."

[StephenO]

This is a repeat.

"Donald Macleod investigates a little-known 'lost decade' in the middle of Tchaikovsky's life, a period the composer spent aimlessly wandering around Europe writing songs, chamber works and even religious choral music, as he struggled to come to terms with his sexuality - and his calling as a musician."

And one from very recently, surely. An excellent CotW I seem to recall but something new would have been nice.

[Flosshilde]

Lots of interesting stuff - unfortunately the piano in the Concert Fantasia sounds rather honky-tonk. But that's more to do with the current state of my hearing, than the player or the piano

[salymap]

Snap re.hearing Flossie. With what I could hear through tinnitus I enjoyed the [rare] performance of the Manfred Symphony today. Would like to hear it again, oh I can [iPlayer}

[Nick Armstrong]

Lots of interesting stuff - unfortunately the piano in the Concert Fantasia sounds rather honky-tonk. But that's more to do with the current state of my hearing, than the player or the piano

... But a lot to do with the music! Jeepers Creepers!!!

I started home from work and switched on the radio about 3 minutes into this thing. I had no idea what it was. First I thought, this is so flashy and hackneyed, it has to be some obscure concertante piece by Liszt in his uber-naff vein.

Then I though, no it's too bad even to be Liszt, maybe it's some American producing a honky-tonk virtuoso concert piece in the manner of Liszt... then I heard Russian harmonies so thought some minor late 19th C Russian no-one's ever heard of...

Then I heard "Tchaikovsky" Well it slightly confirms another of my prejudices (in addition to Liszt)...

Hearing Mravinsky again this morning, though, making the Fourth Symphony make neurotic sense with his Leningraders in Watford, marginally restored some faith in poor old Piotr...

But the Concert Fantasia is a 24-carat out-and-out shocker

[ardcarp]

But the Concert Fantasia is a 24-carat out-and-out shocker

I have similar feelings about Beethoven's Choral Fantasia. I'm generally a big Tchaik fan, but I haven't heard the Concert Fantasia. Perhaps even great composers have a bad hair day...except JSB of course.