Music of Love

by Petar PLAMENOV


30 June (Thursday), Bulgaria Hall, 19:00
Bulgaria Hall
Address:
Sofia, 1 Aksakov Str.
Working time: mon-sun 09:00–18:30
Phone: 02 987 76 56
Conductor: Stanislav Ushev
Soloist: Stella Dimitrova Maistorova [piano]
Program: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Overture-Fantasy Romeo and Juliet, Krasimir Taskov - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony № 1 F minor, Op. 10

The dynamic between loneliness and fulfillment is both a universal human condition and a reflection of the deepest conflict in all of Tchaikovsky's musical works. A famos big  Russian composer known for his colorful and romantic music, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born May 7, 1840. He was a composer of the Romantic Period - a time when music acquired poetic/philosophical meaning. In accordance with this focus on the arts, Tchaikovsky was an extremely well-read and educated man. Therefore, it was only natural he write a musical interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, “Romeo and Juliet,” which I had the please of seeing performed by the RPO. The Romeo and Juliet overture is done in sonata-allegro form and contains two major musical themes: the Friar Laurence/Capulet & Montague theme, and the theme representing the love of Romeo and Juliet, respectively. This first theme is broken up into two parts. The music begins as a solemn chorale, much like the music used in the Russian Orthodox Church, here obviously Tchaikovsky is musically representing Friar Lawrence. This section starts off with a series of woodwind instruments, leading to the strings and horns, and coming full circle back to the woodwinds. Tension begins to build as this part of the theme is repeated; the opening wind chords become much faster over plucked strings.
 


In 1850, Peter's father was appointed as the Director of the St. Petersburg Technological Institute. It was there that Peter received his education at the School of Jurisprudence. The only music instruction he received were piano lessons from a piano manufacturer who occasionally made visits to the school. He also attended the opera and theater with his classmates. It was the works of Rossini, Bellini, Verdi and Mozart that he enjoyed the most. Peter's mother died in 1854, which brought him much sorrow. He responded by turning to music. It was at this time that he made his first serious efforts as a composer, writing a waltz in her memory. In 1855, Peter's father asked a well-known German piano teacher to encourage his son's interest in music. However, when Peter's father asked about his son's musical potential, his teacher wrote that nothing indicated he would be a fine composer or performer. His father asked Peter to complete his course of study and then pursue a post in the Ministry of Justice. He did as he was asked, though his interest in music never left him.

In 1861, Tchaikovsky heard about classes being offered by the Russian Musical Society. He promptly began his studies. In the following year, Tchaikovsky followed his teacher to the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he accepted a post. It was at the conservatory that he met and studied with Anton Rubinstein, director and founder of the Conservatory. Rubinstein was impressed with Tchaikovsky's talent. In 1869 Tchaikovsky composed his first recognised masterpiece, the Overture-Fantasy Romeo and Juliet. Tchaikovsky was deeply inspired by Shakespeare's writing, and in later years composed other works for The Tempest and Hamlet. On November 6, 1893 Tchaikovsky died in St. Petersburg from cholera. His compositions are some of the greatest works of the Romantic Era, including the 1812 Overture, March Slav, and The Nutcracker, which has become a Christmas season favorite.

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