Tchaikovsky's symphonies

English name

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Life

1840–1893

Country

Russia

Mainly active in

Moscow · St. Petersburg

Symphony

6 symphonies

In a line

The composer of Symphony No. 6, the '1812 Overture,' and the Violin Concerto

Fun to know

• At the 1891 opening concert of Carnegie Hall in New York, he conducted his own march
• He conducted the premiere of Symphony No. 6, 'Pathétique,' and died nine days later
• He exchanged letters with his patron Madame von Meck for more than ten years, but never sat down and talked with her face to face

7 symphonies

• Symphony No. 1 'Winter Daydreams'G minor · 1866 · about 44 minA winter dream of a sleepless 26-year-old
• Symphony No. 2 'Little Russian'C minor · 1872 · about 33 minThe finale where the Ukrainian folk song 'The Crane' takes wing
• Symphony No. 3 'Polish'D major · 1875 · about 45 minTchaikovsky's only symphony in a major key and his only one in five movements
• Symphony No. 4F minor · 1878 · about 42 minIt opens with the fanfare of inescapable 'Fate'
• Symphony No. 5E minor · 1888 · about 47 minThe composer called it a 'failure,' but everyone loved it
• Symphony No. 6 'Pathétique'B minor · 1893 · about 46 minThe symphony whose composer died nine days after the premiere
• 'Manfred' SymphonyB minor · 1885 · about 55 minThe unnumbered symphony, Byron's lonely hero