- Contents of accompanying discs: CD 1. Zemfira's Song(2:17) ; The Storm, Op. 76 (Conslusion) (7:01) ; Romance In F Minor For Piano, Op. 5 (6:13) ; Romeo & Juliet (Fantasy Overture) (20:27) ; To Forget So Soon (3:13) ; String Quartet No. 1 In D Major, Op. 11 (6:36) ; Symphony No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 17 "Little Russian" (10:33) ; The Snow Maiden, Op. 12 (1:33) ; Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 23 (7:10) ; Tchaikovsky: Symphony #4 - Scherzo: Pizzicato Ostinato, Allegro (5:56) ; Variations On A Rococo Theme For Cello & Orchestra (2:11) ; Lensky's Aria (6:17)
- CD 2. Violin concerto in D major, op. 35. Finale, Allegro vivacissimo (10:46) ; Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, op. 41. No. 11, Epiclesis (2:58) ; Capriccio italien, op. 45. Conclusion (4:06) ; 1812 : (festival overture), op. 49. Conclusion (4:06) ; Serenade in C major for strings, op. 48. Movement 2, Valse (3:57) ; Piano trio in A minor, op. 50. Movement 2, Tema con variazioni : excerpts (6:54) ; Manfred, op. 58. Movement 2, Vivace con spirito (9:44) ; Symphony no. 5, in E minor, op. 64. Movment 2, Andante cantibile con alcuna licenza (13:40) ; The sleeping beauty, op. 66. Act 1. No. 7, Vlase (4:45) ; The Queen of Spades, op. 68. Act 1. Scene 3, Hermann's aria "Forgive me, heavenly creature" (2:48) ; The nutcracker, op. 71. Act II. No. 14, variation 2, "The dance of the sugar-plum fairy" (2:16) ; Symphony no. 6 in B minor, op. 74: Pathétique. Finale, Adagio lamentoso-Andante (10:51).
Tcahikovsky is one of the most popular composers who ever lived. He is also one of the most misunderstood, as both man and musician, and looks destined to remain among the most controversial. Widely misrepresented as an emotional voluptuary and typecast as a 'crazy Russian genius', he was, in fact, a highly disciplined and masterly craftsman of pronounced classical leanings, and a man whose volatile and hypersensitive temperament was as much his friend as his enemy. His life was lived at the extremes, and fuelled by passions of almost every kind. This much is evident in his music, which plays a vital part in this absorbing portrait, as do the words of the composer and his contemporaries. Here we meet the composer in the context of his times. We also meet a man of compelling humanity, sensibility and humour. This book comes complete with 2 CDs of music and free access to a dedicated website with hours of extra music and other bonus material.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)