LIVE AT THE CONCERTGEBOUW  In this week's episode of Live at the Concertgebouw we listen to Tchaikovsky's final work, his Sixth Symphony in b minor, dubbed by his brother Modeste, with the composer's approval, as the "Pathétique".

Its popular appeal is immortal, displaying, as with all Tchaikovsky's great work, a complex texturing of emotion – sorrow leavened with hope and happiness tinged with a foreboding of despair.

Tchaikovsky died nine days after the premiere – he drank a glass of unboiled water at the height of an epidemic of cholera, to which he succumbed in great agony. The official explanation was that he had made a grievous mistake. But even before his massive state funeral rumors began – how could a discreet, intelligent man do such a thing?

Yet, if Tchaikovsky had taken his life, why? Was he depressed? That's unlikely – reaction had been tepid to the first performance, which Tchaikovsky had led with his usual nervousness, but acclaim for nearly all his works was at first elusive and invariably had swiftly grown.

Tchaikovsky reportedly proclaimed the "Pathétique" to be his finest achievement and was quite proud and satisfied. © Peter Gutmann-Classisal Notes

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Andris Nelsons, conductor
Rafal Blechaz, piano


DEBUSSY: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concerto No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6, ‘Pathétique’

WE APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS PROGRAMME IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING