Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" | Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra & Andris Nelsons

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, also known as "Pathétique," is one of the most iconic symphonies in classical music history. Here, the famous work is performed by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under the baton of Andris Nelsons. The performance took place on March 15, 2017 in Leipzig's Gewandhaus on the occasion of Andris Nelsons' appointment to the position of Gewandhauskapellmeister. (00:00) I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo (20:18) II. Allegro con grazia (28:55) III. Allegro molto vivace (37:58) IV. Finale: Adagio lamentoso Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony, which was later given the name "Pathétique," premiered just days before the composer's death. It has a tragic character, comparable to Mozart’s Requiem. In the symphony, Tchaikovsky seems to review his entire life, ending with the ultimate question: What will remain of me? The paradox of Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 is that Tchaikovsky wrote the piece at the height of his creative powers — not in anticipation of his death. He passed away suddenly from cholera in 1893 at the age of 53. This work could have heralded the beginning of a new phase in his creative output, and according to many accounts, the composer himself saw it that way. The piece is considered programmatic; however, the composer’s actual meaning remains a matter of speculation. "You wanted to know the meaning of the Sixth Symphony,” wrote Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer's brother and confidant, when asked by Czech musicologist Richard Batka. "But I can't tell you anything about it, because my brother kept it to himself. He took this secret with him to his grave." Every conductor seeks his own approach to the Pathétique, and every orchestra searches for its own sound. You can also listen to the interpretation of Andris Nelsons and the Gewandhaus Orchestra and compare it with that of Marek Janowski and the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra: two performances of the same piece with two completely different sounds. Text: Anastassia Boutsko © 2018 Accentus Music Watch more concerts:    • CONCERT HALL   Famous symphonies:    • SYMPHONIES   Other pieces by Tchaikovsky:    • BEST OF TCHAIKOVSKY   More music from the Romantic period:    • THE ROMANTIC ERA   Subscribe to DW Classical Music:    / dwclassicalmusic   #symphony #romanticmusic #tchaikovsky