Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony - 1st Movement

Описание: Written after an important European tour, the great Fifth Symphony shows Tchaikovsky as an adept treader of the middle path: while the musical craft of the composition shows great skill in (Central) European symphonic technique, there is a strong Russian flavour throughout, one that owes much to Russia’s long tradition of folk music, both secular and sacred. And even a musician as aware of his “outsider-ness” as him was not immune to the Germanic debates between absolute and programme music: an 1888 sketch throws up “Fate” and “Providence” as motifs, though he would eventually perform and publish the music without any such explicit notes.

The richness of Tchaikovsky’s invention means that the first movement constantly flows with new ideas, eschewing the typical sonata form. Here, new themes and melodies arise, intertwined with the motif introduced at the opening, many of these strongly coloured by Slavic influence.

Andante 0:00
Allegro con anima 2:44
Poco meno animato 4:56
Molto più tranquillo 6:01
Tempo I (Letter I) 6:44
letter L~ 7:49
letter O~ 8:54
letter Q~ 9:32
Poco meno animato 11:10
Molto più tranquillo come sopra 12:11
letter X~ 13:21
letter Z~ 14:01

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Hans Graf, Music Director

Audio & Video: msm-productions (Singapore)

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 3 May 2024. The full concert is available to Channel Members here as well as on medici.tv.

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