May | Tchaikovsky & Blooming Brilliance - Part II
- May 14
- 2 min read
Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony is one of the great romantic orchestral blockbusters. It deals with themes of fate and the triumph of overcoming fate. The melodies are all memorable and the ending is huge, bombastic and over the top. Perhaps this is why it has been beloved by audiences since its premiere in 1888.
Of course, the early critics were not convinced. In Russia, Valerian Bogdanov-Berezovsky wrote, "The Fifth Symphony is the weakest of Tchaikovsky's symphonies, but nevertheless it is a striking work, taking a prominent place not only among the composer's output but among Russian works in general … the entire symphony seems to spring from some dark spiritual experience."
At the American premier in Boston in October 1892, the Boston Evening Transcript published this, “Of the Fifth Tchaikovsky Symphony one hardly knows what to say …In the Finale we have all the untamed fury of the Cossack, whetting itself for deeds of atrocity, against all the sterility of the Russian steppes. The furious peroration sounds like nothing so much as a horde of demons struggling in a torrent of brandy, the music growing drunker and drunker. Pandemonium, delirium tremens, raving, and above all, noise worse confounded.”
The public, intrigued by the concept of a musical horde of inebriated Cossacks and demons, bought every possible ticket and made the concerts a resounding success.
Tchaikovsky himself, always full of self-doubt, wrote this, “My new symphony was played twice in Saint Petersburg and once in Prague. I am convinced that this symphony is not a success. There is something so repellent about such excess, insincerity and artificiality. With each day that passes I am increasingly certain that my last symphony is not a successful work, and the realization that it is unsuccessful—or perhaps that my powers are declining—is very distressing to me. The symphony is too colorful, massive, insincere, drawn out …”
Needless to say, it became an overwhelming success and is now one of the most frequently performed romantic symphonies.
Sunday, May 17th • 3:00 PM
Central Kitsap Performing Arts Center
10140 Frontier Place NW, Silverdale, WA 98383
