Opera Scotland

Moscow

Tours by decade

Tours by location

Music

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (born Kamsko-Votkinsk, 7 May 1840; died St Petersburg, 6 November 1893)

Text

Apollon Maykov (1821-1897)

 

Premieres

First Performance: Moscow (Kremlin), 15/27 May 1883.

First Performance in UK: tbc.

First Performance in Scotland: Edinburgh (Usher Hall), 3 September 1992.

 

Background

Tchaikovsky was commissioned to compose a cantata to celebrate the coronation of Tsar Alexander III of Russia in 1883. He was visiting Paris at the time, communications with home were rather difficult, and the circumstances were somewhat confused. In the end he had to choose a text and compose the work in a great hurry.

Moscow is a short cantata in six brief sections, totalling less than half an hour in duration, for mezzo-soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra. It is very rarely performed nowadays. However it is a strikingly enjoyable work.