Symfoni nr 3

The 35-year-old composer had quite a burst of creativity in 1875. In February, he completed his magnificent Piano Concerto No. 1 and during that year he was working in parallel on two other major works: his first ballet, Swan Lake, and Symphony No. 3. The symphony was completed in August and premiered in Moscow in November that year.

This is the only one of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies in five movements, something that adds a pleasing symmetry. At its centre is the slow, tranquil and plaintive third movement, which is enclosed by two scherzos that, in turn are bookended by the introduction and finale. All of the symphony’s movements, with the exception of the slow central movement, have elements of dance rhythms and it seems likely that this is why legendary choreographer George Balanchine, renowned for his collaboration with Stravinsky, used the symphony

(minus the first movement) for “Diamonds”, the third act of his 1967 ballet Jewels. The second movement is a graceful waltz and the finale a whirling polonaise, which contributed to the symphony often being referred to as the Polish. The work begins with a march that swings between sadness and majesty. Note that this was long before the march became a symphonic staple through Mahler and Shostakovich.