Grieg chose four of the 28 original movements from the incidental music composed for Henrik Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt for his Suite No. 1. From the beautiful sunrise over the Moroccan desert to the primal, pulsating energy of In the Hall of the Mountain King, the music is enchanting and evocative. With its graceful main theme and resourceful invention, the Rococo Variations remains one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular pieces. It is a work characterised by carefree charm, grace and the indomitable spirit of his idol, Mozart, filtered through his Russian and Romantic sensibilities. Among his most popular works, the Fourth Symphony is a meticulously structured meditation on Fate in four movements written at a time of great emotional turmoil. As Tchaikovsky admitted it is autobiographical; turbulent but finally triumphant; reflecting his recent tribulations as well as his eventual recovery. The principal idea of the work is the implacability of Fate, a force that “poisons the soul” by impeding the individual’s quest for peace and fulfilment.
