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Published: Thursday, 26 December 2024 at 13:07 PM
Best of Tchaikovsky: 11 great works that show the Russian Romantic at his irresistible best
The great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky gave us some of the most powerful, emotional and melodic works of the Romantic era, or indeed of any era in classical music. We’ve selected 11 of Tchaikovsky’s very best works, which together provide a showcase for his unparalleled emotional depth, melodic genius, and orchestral brilliance.
Best of Tchaikovsky: early works
1. Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture (1870)
This early tone poem sets Shakespeare’s tragic love story to music with sweeping melodies, lush harmonies, and the famous “love theme,” which you can hear surging upwards from around 14:20 in the excerpt below.
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 (1874-75)
Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto is a virtuosic, unapologetically Romantic affair. It opens, memorably, with a grand, instantly recognizable theme. Later, its lyrical second movement and fiery finale make it a firm favourite among pianists and audiences alike. Great pianists from Sergei Rachmaninov to Beatrice Rana via Martha Argerich have attacked the Tchaikovsky with relish.
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3. Swan Lake, Op. 20 (1876)
Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, Swan Lake remains a cornerstone of classical dance, with its sweeping melodies and the haunting Swan Theme capturing the tragic beauty of the story.
Swan Lake follows the tale of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess who has been cursed by the sorcerer Rothbart to live as a swan by day and as a woman by night. The curse can only be broken by true love. Siegfried falls in love with Odette and vows to free her. A powerfully emotive story follows – and one which, intriguingly, can end either happily or tragically for the lovers, depending on the production!
Best of Tchaikovsky: three middle-period highlights
4. Eugene Onegin, Op. 24 (1878)
Based on the novel of the same name by the great Russian novelist and poet Alexander Pushkin, Eugene Onegin is perhaps Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece and a candidate for any list of the greatest operas of all time. The Letter Scene and the Polonaise are among the highlights of this poignant tale of love and regret.
5. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1878)
A pinnacle of the violin repertoire, the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto blends dazzling virtuosity with lyrical beauty, particularly in its heartfelt second movement. We open with an Allegro first movement dominated by a singing, romantic theme. Filled with dazzling runs and lyrical passages, this is a test for even the most virtuoso of performers.
The Andante that follows is melancholic and tender, and showcases the more expressive side of the violin. It features an intimate dialogue between soloist and orchestra, and something of a pause for reflection before the fiery, energetic, Allegro vivacissimo Finale with its Russian folk music influences.
6. Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48 (1880)
Lush and romantic, Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings is full of charm and elegance, particularly in the lilting Waltz movement and the eloquent, heartfelt Elegy.
Best of Tchaikovsky: the fertile final years
7. Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (1889)
With his supreme gifts for melody, rhythm and emotion, Tchaikovsky was a born ballet composer, and it should be no great surprise that all three of his ballets make this best-of list. Sleeping Beauty is a fairytale masterpiece, with enchanting themes like the Garland Waltz and the Rose Adagio. Tchaikovsky’s amazing talent for a memorable melody is rarely heard to better advantage.
8. Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades) (1890)
Another Tchaikovsky opera makes the list! It’s perhaps less famous than Eugene Onegin above, but Pique Dame was dear to its composer – in fact, he labelled it his finest achievement. It’s another Alexander Pushkin adaptation, this time the tale of a young outsider army officer who becomes obsessed by a rumour that an elderly Countess holds the secret to winning at cards.
9. String Sextet in D minor, ‘Souvenir de Florence’ (1890)
Tchaikovsky didn’t write an enormous amount of chamber music, but what he did compose is of a consistently high quality. There are three numbered string quartets, a masterful piano trio… and the delicious ‘Souvenir de Florence’, for a sextet of string instruments (two violins, two violas and two cellos). It’s one of his most celebrated chamber music works, radiating warmth, passion, and lyrical beauty.
10. The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (1892)
A much-loved ballet for Christmas and indeed at any time of year, The Nutcracker is a spellbinding fantasy that features some of Tchaikovsky’s most memorable music, including The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and The Waltz of the Flowers.
The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale ‘The Nutcracker and the Mouse King’, though Tchaikovsky’s version, adapted by Alexandre Dumas père, is lighter and more childlike. The delightfully colourful and fanciful plot includes a second-act visit to the Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy, where Clara and the Prince witness a series of dances from around the world, each representing different sweets or cultures.
The ballet culminates with the ethereal Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the grand Waltz of the Flowers.
11. Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, “Pathétique” (1893)
Tchaikovsky’s final symphony, the ‘Pathétique‘ is a deeply emotional and dramatic work. The heart-wrenching Adagio lamentoso finale is one of the most poignant movements in classical music. It was a shoo-in for our list of the greatest symphonies of all time.
Exploring themes of despair, hope, and resignation, the ‘Pathétique’ is often interpreted as reflecting Tchaikovsky’s personal struggles – with his homosexuality, for example. The decision to end with a slow, tragic movement was unconventional, emphasising the work’s unique narrative arc.
Tchaikovsky’s use of lush strings, powerful brass, and poignant woodwind solos adds to the symphony’s emotional impact. The composer himself conducted the first performance on October 28, 1893, in St Petersburg. He died just nine days later, leading to speculation about whether the work has autobiographical or tragic significance, opr indeed serves as a kind of requiem for its composer.