Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky's music with Sir Matthew Bourne and Dame Monica Mason

Tchaikovsky is responsible for some of the world’s best loved and best known ballets. His music for Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker has become so popular and ubiquitous that we’re as likely to hear it in the concert hall, or accompanying a TV ad, as in the theatre. But this week, Donald Macleod is on a mission to take Tchaikovsky back to his dancing roots, in the company of two of British ballet’s brightest stars. Dame Monica Mason joined the Royal Ballet as the age of sixteen, becoming the youngest dancer in the company at that time. She went on to dance many principal roles, eventually becoming Director of the Royal Ballet in 2002, before her retirement in 2012. Sir Matthew Bourne has been hailed as the most popular and successful British choreographer and dancer, with a string of awards for his many productions, not least his ground-breaking production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Both guests bring their expertise, sharing with Donald Macleod their views on Tchaikovsky, and their experience of performing and choreographing his works.

Music Featured:

Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 2 excerpt) The Seasons, Op 37b No 6 (June: Barcarolle) No reply, no word, no greeting, Op 28 No 5 (Six Romances) String Quartet No 3, Op 30 (Allegretto vivo e scherzando) Swan Lake, Op 20 Valse sentimentale in F minor, Op 51 No 6 (excerpt) Eugene Onegin, Op 24 (Act 2: Waltz) Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 2 excerpt) Serenade in C, Op 48 The Sleeping Beauty, Op 66 (excerpt) The Golden Cloud has Slept The Fancy Slippers (Danse des cosaques) The Enchantress (excerpt) The Sleeping Beauty, Op 66 Impromptu in A flat Serenade, Op 65 No 3 (Six Melodies) The Sleeping Beauty, Op 66 The Queen of Spades, Op 68 (Act 1: Liza’s Aria) Hamlet, Op 67a (Overture) Souvenir de Florence, Op 70 (Adagio cantabile e com moto) The Endellion Quartet The Nutcracker, Op 71 (Overture) Iolanta Op 69 (Act 1 Scene 5: My only beloved Mathilde I claim) Souvenir de Florence, Op 70 (Allegro vivace) The Nutcracker, Op 71

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lnz3

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z