Tchaikovsky – Andante Cantabile for Cello and Strings (from String Quartet No. 1 Op. 11)
Andante Cantabile for Cello and Strings
(from String Quartet No. 1 Op. 11) (1871)
Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Short of money as usual at this time in his life, Tchaik-ovsky arranged a concert of chamber music to support himself. Lacking a suitable work, he composed his first string quartet, which became the first great Russian string quartet. This immediately became hugely popular, largely due to its Andante Cantabile slow movement. Capitalising on its popularity, Tchaikovsky later arranged it for cello and strings. It is based on a Ukrainian folk song “Sidel Vanya” which brackets an original theme by Tchaikovsky.
Performed: 17/8/2014, 23/8/2014