Work type: Overture

IN 1880, Tchaikovsky’s friend, Nikolai Rubinstein, suggested that he should compose a grand work to use at a number of upcoming events. These included the completion of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. This was built to commemorate the failure of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. Other notable events were the 25th anniversary of … Read more

Glinka was born into a wealthy family and initially became a government bureaucrat before studying music in Italy and Berlin. In 1834 he returned to Russia and rediscovered his Russian heritage, reading the works of Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol. This led him to undertake composing a national opera, for which he chose the subject … Read more