PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1813-1883)

Tchaikovsky was at the height of his powers, aged just fifty-three, when he died in the autumn of 1893. His Symphony No. 6, ‘Pathétique’, which he described as ‘the best thing I have ever done’, had been triumphantly received just a few days before his death, in what can only be described as ‘suspicious circumstances’.

During the course of our day we will explore music from the composer’s last few years, which saw the creation of some of his greatest works, in the context of his recurring preoccupation with Fate, ‘the sword of Damocles which hangs over us all’.

The musical examples using CD and DVD will be played on excellent hi-fi equipment.