VA - Best Tchaikovsky 100 [6CD Box Set] (2010)

This 6-CD set contains 100 tracks from the most familiar and best-loved works by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893), performed by many of the world’s leading instrumentalists, singers, orchestras and conductors.

Tchaikovsky is one of the major composers of the 19th century Romantic era. His music is full of magnificent melodies and is noted for its passion and its sincerity. Many of Tchaikovsky’s themes have been heard in major film soundtracks and TV adverts.

CD 1 begins with the sweeping opening of his 1st Piano Concerto, one of the most familiar works in the classical repertoire. This is followed by extracts from all his other concertos, namely the impressive 2nd and 3rd Piano Concertos, the magnificent Violin Concerto and the charming Rococo Variations for cello and orchestra.

CD 2 includes substantial extracts from Symphonies Nos 3, 4, 5 & 6, which represent the emotional heart of the composer’s entire output.

Tchaikovsky’s three great ballet scores – Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker – contain some of his most inspired music and are represented here on CD 3 by generous highlights from all three works.

CD 4 includes arias and orchestral items from some of Tchaikovsky’s main operas: Eugene Onegin, The Queen of Spades, The Snow Maiden and Mazeppa, together with a representative selection of his songs, including the beautiful ‘None but the lonely heart’.

CD 5 covers chamber and instrumental works, including the famous ‘Andante cantabile’ from his String Quartet No.1 and extracts from the delightful piano suite of 12 short character pieces called The Seasons.

CD 6 presents several of Tchaikovsky’s most popular orchestral pieces, including March slave, String Serenade in C, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture and Capriccio italien. The set ends with a complete performance of the spectacular ‘1812’ Overture.