Pyotr Tsjaikovski - Souvenir de Florence in D groot, op. 70 (플로렌스의 추억)

 

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

(1840~1893)

 

 

 Souvenir de Florence in D groot, op. 70

 

Janine Jansen, viool
Vilde Frang, viool
Lawrence Power, altviool
Julian Rachlin, altviool
Nicolas Altstaedt, cello
Jens Peter Maintz, cello
Torleif Thedéen, cello
Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano

                      

 

The String Sextet in D minor "Souvenir de Florence", Op. 70, is a string sextet scored for 2 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos composed in the European summer of 1890 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Tchaikovsky dedicated the work to the St. Petersburg Chamber Music Society in response to his becoming an Honorary Member. The work, in the traditional four-movement form, was titled "Souvenir de Florence" because the composer sketched one of the work's principal themes while visiting Florence, Italy, where he composed The Queen of Spades. The work was revised between December 1891 and January 1892, before being premiered in 1892.

 

Structure

• I. Allegro con spirito (D minor, approx. 10:00)
• II. Adagio cantabile e con moto (D major, approx. 11:00)
• III. Allegretto moderato (A minor, approx. 6:00)
• IV. Allegro con brio e vivace (D minor, approx. 7:00)

Copenhagen Festival Ensemble
Odd Fellow Palace, Copenhagen 18. November 2012

Liza Ferschtman, violin
Marie Hanskov, violin
Lars Anders Tomter, viola
Dmitri Golovanov, viola
Morten Zeuthen, cello
Toke Møldrup, cello
Kiril Aginsky, Artistic Director

Analysis

The first movement is in sonata form and, without introduction, presents a rather violent yet melodic first theme in D minor. The second theme, in the dominant major key of A major, is much calmer; it flows from the first theme almost effortlessly and then proceeds into the development and recapitulation, which concludes with a quick coda.

The slow movement, in D major, has a very innocent, romantic theme initially stated by the first violin with pizzicato accompaniment before being taken up by the cello. Following interruption by an interlude for all of the instruments, the theme returns for a repeat of the first section.

The last two movements, with their distinctly Russian and folk-like melodies and rhythms, greatly contrast with the previous ones.

 

* This work has also been arranged for string orchestra

 

* Excerpts from the score were used in the 2005 ballet Anna Karenina,

choreographed by Boris Eifman.