VA - Tchaikovsky in Odessa - Part Two (2020) [Hi-Res]

“I have never experienced anything like this before in my life. They are honouring me here as if I were some great man, almost a person who had saved their Motherland." (Pyotr Tchaikovsky about Odessa and Odessa’s people)

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky arrived at Odessa on the 12th of January 1893. Lev Kupernik, the Head of Odessa Branch of the Russian Imperial Musical Society and Ivan Grekov, entrepreneur of the Odessa City Theatre, invited him to Odessa. The composer agreed to take part in the production of his opera Queen of Spades and conduct two symphonic concerts.

Odessa’s people were looking forward to the maestro’s arrival. “People were fighting to get the tickets for these concerts in spite of the high price the Musical Society had put. The Society had problems with funding and it needed extra money to make ends meet. Interviewers followed Tchaikovsky and rivaled to question him. Tchaikovsky was so polite that he responded in a written form to be exact in his answers,” – Abram Kaufman, a journalist, wrote in his memoirs.

Musicians of the Odessa City Theatre were looking forward to the first rehearsal of the Queen of Spades and were walking there as if they were going to some party. “The orchestra musicians were at their places long before the agreed time… As soon as Pyotr Il’yich appeared on stage the orchestra burst into thunders of applause and “Hurray” screams. The musicians started playing touché and raised the composer up on their hands, to his great amazement. They were swinging him for a long time. All the people present in the theatre stood up, the applause lasted for 15 minutes. Pyotr Il’ych walked to the first row of chairs, sat and making comments followed the rehearsal from there,” – Sergei Levin, an orchestra musician, told.

“I have never been so tired of conducting as it was in Odessa… but I have never been extolled to the skies elsewhere in such a degree“, – Tchaikovsky admitted in his letter to his brother Modest. Leaving Odessa on the 25th of January 1893 the composer promised to get back in autumn to take part in production of his opera Iolanta. It never happened. Tchaikovsky passed away in less than in a year. “In 1893 we got sad news about Tchaikovsky’s death. It was as if we had been hit by a lightening“, – Sergei Levin remembered.

Odessa mourned sincerely. A number of concerts dedicated to the composer’s memory were held; his music was performed there. The premiere of Iolanta took place shortly after the sad news. “I would like my music to spread, I want it from the bottom of my heart. I wish the number of my music lovers grew so they could get some consolation and support in it.” – Pyotr Tchaikovsky wrote. His dream has come true. It has been more than 100 years since the great composer died but his music is immortal. It still sounds; it still inspires and fascinates the listeners.