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PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–93)
Polonaise from
Eugene Onegin
See page 108 for program notes.
Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35
Scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two
bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, timpani, strings,
and solo violin
“I neither know nor can understand why, despite
such favorable circumstances, I am not disposed
to work. Am I played out? I have to squeeze out
of myself weak and worthless ideas and pon-
der every bar. But I shall achieve my goal, and
I hope inspiration will dawn upon me.” At his
retreat in Clarens, Switzerland, Tchaikovsky ini-
tiated a new composition project in 1878 that,
he hoped, would revive his beleaguered spirits.
The disillusionment caused by his short-lived,
disastrous marriage to Antonina Ivanovna Mi-
lyukova still clouded his thoughts and dulled his
imagination.
Josef Kotek, a graduate of the Moscow Conser-
vatory, arrived in Clarens, bringing a welcome
breath of fresh air. This young violinist was a
resident musician of the wealthy and eccentric
Nadezhda von Meck. Two years earlier, Kotek
had convinced her to commission several short
works for violin and orchestra fromTchaikovsky.
Thrilled by the results, she offered Tchaikovsky
a substantial annual salary, freeing him from
teaching responsibilities at the conservatory. As
Tchaikovsky’s patron and friend, the influential
Meck helped expedite his divorce proceedings.
Plans for a violin concerto quickly came into
focus. By March 28, 1878, Tchaikovsky had
completed three movements. Dissatisfied with
the slow movement, he excised it and wrote an-
other. (The original movement later became the
Méditation
in his
Souvenir d’un lieu cher
, op. 42.)
Orchestration was completed on April 11.
Tchaikovsky praised Kotek for his devotion to
the new work: “How lovingly he busies himself
5:00 PM SUNDAY, JULY 22, 2018
PAVILION
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
KEN-DAVID MASUR,
conductor
MIRIAM FRIED,
violin
TCHAIKOVSKY SPECTACULAR
Polonaise from
Eugene Onegin
Violin Concerto
Allegro moderato
Canzonetta: Andante [
attacca
]
Finale: Allegro vivacissimo
Miriam Fried
–Intermission–
Capriccio Italien
1812
Overture
Ravinia expresses its appreciation for the generous support of
Featured Sponsor
The Negaunee Foundation
and
The Tchaikovsky Consortium
.
The Tchaikovsky Consortium comprises Larry A. Gerber, Jack and Donna Greenberg,
Dave and Emily Merjan, Shalom Memorial Funeral Home / Shalom Memorial Park,
Stuart Sondheimer and Bonnie Lucas, and Paul and Virginia Uhlenhop.
Ravinia is proud to feature “Charlie’s Cannons”
in tonight’s performance of the
1812
Overture.
Tonight’s concert celebrates the 25 years that Miriam Fried has now been the
guiding hand of the Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute Program for Piano and Strings
Josef Kotek and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky