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Tchaikovsky's 1812: A Dishonest Overture?

James Jolly explores Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, and the hidden depths to this famous crowd-pleaser, which plays fast and loose with history.

September 7th, 1812. Near the village of Borodino, just 30 miles from Moscow, the forces of Tsarist Russia face the might of Napoleon's grande armΓ©e. James Jolly explores Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, written to commemorate this battle, and discovers hidden depths in this famous crowd-pleaser, which plays fast and loose with historical fact. With contributions from historian Orlando Figes, Russian music expert Geoffrey Norris, and conductors Andrew Litton and Vasily Petrenko.

45 minutes

Last on

Sat 10 Aug 2013 12:15
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • 0'00"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (opening)

      Performers: Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati (conductor)

      • DECCA 475 8508.

  • 07'10": an example of Tchaikovsky's passionate melodies as discussed by Andrew Litton

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (opening)

      Performers: Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati (conductor)

      • DECCA 475 8508.

  • 09'50": (Save, O God, Thy people) - used as the opening melody in the 1812 Overture

    • Trad. Russian Hymn

      Spasi, gospodi lyudi Tvoya

      Performers: Slavyanka Men's Chorus, Paul Andrews (director)

      • HARMONIA MUNDI HMU907098.

  • 11'05": Spasi, gospodi lyudi Tvoya, as it appears in Buketoff's version of the 1812 overture

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (opening)

      Performers: Cathedral Choir of St Ambrose, Igor Buketoff (conductor)

      • RCA VD 87731.

  • 12'35": a version of the original folk-song "At the gate"

    • Trad.

      At the Gate to father's dear house

      Performers: Sergei Lemeshev (tenor), USSR State Russian Folk Orchestra, V. Fedoseyev (conductor)

      • LP: MELODIYA D029715/6.

  • 13'15": the folk-song 'At the Gate", as it appears in the 1812 overture

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (opening)

      Performers: Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati (conductor)

      • DECCA 475 8508.

  • 14'25"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      "Languishing is unbearable, so bitter the captivity" (Voyevoda Act II sc.2)

      Performers: G. Kuznetsova (soprano), Y. Abakumovskaya (mezzo), USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Kozhukhar

      • MELODIYA MEL CD 10 01869.

  • 15'05": the melody from the Voyevoda as it appears in the 1812 overture

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (excerpt)

      Performers: USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov

      • SCRIBENDUM SC 024.

  • 16'30"

    • Claude‐Joseph Rouget de l’Isle

      La Marseillaise arr. Berlioz

      Performers: Placido Domingo, Choeur et Orchestre de Paris, Daniel Barenboim (conductor)

      • D 437 640-2.

  • 19'56"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (excerpt)

      Performers: Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati (conductor)

      • DECCA 475 8508.

  • 22'07": the Russian national anthem composed 1833

    • L'vov

      Lord save the Tsar

      Performers: Soglasie Male Voice Choir of St Petersburg, Alexander Govorov (director)

      • IMP PCD 2030.

  • 22'46"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (the alternative ending performed during the Communist era)

      Performers: USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov

      • SCRIBENDUM SC 024.

  • 27'05"

    • Commentary to the 1812 Overture

      Deems Taylor narrating how the canon were recorded on location at the U.S. Military Academ

      Performer: Bronze canon 'Le Constant" [The Faithful] made in Douay, France 1775

      • DECCA 475 8508.

  • 31'00"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (Allegro giusto fugato passage)

      Performers: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

      • DG 415 855-2.

  • 36'17"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture (excerpt)

      Performers: Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton (conductor)

      • DELOS DE 3196.

  • 38'43"

    • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      1812 Overture arr. Buketoff (conclusion)

      Performers: Russian Church Bells, Gun's of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Central Band of the RAF, Cathedral Choir and Children's Choir of St Ambrose, New Philharmonia, Igor Buketoff (conductor)

      • RCA VD 87731.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 1 Dec 2012 12:15
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
  • Sat 10 Aug 2013 12:15
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3