The BBC Orchestra
(Section E)
Led by Laurance Turner
Conducted by Leslie Heward
Arthur Catterall (violin)
Tchaikovsky appears to have derived a great deal of pleasure from composing his Violin Concerto in D. In a letter to his publisher he said: 'I hit upon the idea quite accidentally, began to work at it, was completely carried away-and now the sketch is all but finished.' He dedicated it to Leopold Auer , but the latter failed to appreciate the work, so Tchaikovsky substituted the name of Adolph Brodsky , who performed it for the first time with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1881. Despite the melodiousness and brilliant showiness of the first and third movements, and the lyrical charm of the slow movement, the concerto was not a success, and many veers passed before it became generally popular.
Liszt's symphonic poem ' Les Preludes ' is based on Lamartine's
Méditations poétiques : 'What is life but a series of preludes to that unknown song whose initial solemn note is tolled by Death ? The enchanted dawn of every life is love; but where is the destiny on whose first delicious joys some storm does not break ?-a storm whose deadly blast disperses youth's illusions, whose fatal bolt consumes its altar. And what soul, thus cruelly bruised when the tempest rolls away seeks not to rest its memories in the calm of rural life ? Yet man allows himself not long to taste quietness that first attracted him to Nature's lap ; but when the trumpet gives the signal he hastens to danger's post, whatever be the fight which draws him to its lists, that in the strife he may once more regain full knowledge of himself and all his strength.'