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Recordings

2 CDs 442 586-2 PHILIPS - Complete Tone Poems

445 523-2 TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Ouverture Barenboim - Deutsche Grammophon

415 855-2 TCHAIKOVSKY Ouverture »1812« etc Karajan - Deutsche Grammophon

Overture solennelle "1812", op. 49


1812 was commissioned by Nikolay Rubinstein, who wanted an overture either for the 1882 Exhibition of Art and Commerce or for the Tsar´s silver jubilee, an alternative proposal was a cantata for the consecration of the Cathedral of the Redeemer, built to commemorate the events of the year 1812 when Napoleon was forced back from the occupation of Moscow into his disastrous winter retreat. Grumbling furiously, Tchaikovsky agreed to Rubinstein´s request out of friendship, with an overture for the Cathedral: "The Overture will be very loud, noisy, but I wrote it without any warm feelings of love and so it will probably be of no artistic worth." The programmatic elements are easily grasped: the "Marseillaise" is scattered before the Russian cannon and the national anthem, "God save the Tsar," while the soul of Russia is preserved in the chant "Save us, o Lord" and a folk song.

Festival overture (E flat major)
  • Composed September - November 1880.
  • Scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 cornets, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, triangle, tambourine, military drum, cymbals, bass drum, bells, cannon, military band (ad lib) and strings.
  • Also arranged for piano duet (4 hands) and solo piano (2 hands) by Tchaikovsky, 1881(?).
  • First performed in Moscow, 8/20 August 1882, conducted by Ippolit Altani.