蜜芽传媒

Tchaikovsky鈥檚 last complete symphony, Symphony No 6 鈥楶athetique鈥� is strongly associated with his death, which occurred only nine days after conducting the premiere on 28 October 1893.

Originally named the 鈥楶rogramme Symphony鈥� by Tchaikovsky, it later was renamed the 鈥楶assionate Symphony鈥� and then the mistranslated French title 鈥楶ath茅tique鈥�, meaning 鈥渆voking pity鈥�. The piece conveys a particularly sombre and melancholy mood, perhaps relating to Tchaikovsky鈥檚 own struggle with depression throughout his life. Indeed, Tchaikovsky commented that 鈥淲ithout exaggeration, I have put my whole soul into this work.鈥�

The opening movement begins with the lowest range in the orchestra, a theme played by solo bassoon and double basses. The inner movements provide some light relief, before the symphony ends with a slow and mournful final movement.

This performance by 蜜芽传媒 NOW took place in November 2019 at St David鈥檚 Hall, with conductor Joseph Swensen.