Relayed from St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow
The Scottish Orchestra
Conducted by Vladimir Golschmann
The third 'Leonora' Overture begins with a solemn descending scale, and then we hear the beautiful air in which in the opera, Florestan, the hero, sings of the happy springtime of his own youth. Leonora appears with the beginning of the quick section, in a very beautiful Theme eloquent of noble strength and dignity. A little later another impressive theme reminds us once more of Florestan and his unhappy lot in prison. After these have been set forth there is a dramatic moment when the whole orchestra falls silent and a trumpet call is heard from without. In the opera, the same trumpet call announces the arrival of the governor, through whose coming Florestan is released from his unjust imprisonment. A quiet theme on the woodwinds expresses the dawning of hope in the prisoner's heart, the trumpet call is heard again, and the theme of hope grows stronger. All the former themes return, lending the music a note of exaltation, and the Overture ends with a great song of joy in which the first Leonora theme rings out triumphantly.
Tchaikovsky began a sixth Symphony in mid-Atlantic - so his diary tells us - on his voyage from the States in the early summer of 1891. But the work did not please him, and ho destroyed it, beginning immediately afterwards the new sixth Symphony, with such enthusiasm and energy that the whole thing was clearly outlined in his mind in less than four days. He wrote of it as a Symphony with a programme, 'but a programme of a kind which remains an enigma to all - let them guess it who can,' and his intention was to call it 'A Programme Symphony.' The work was completed by August of that year, and Tchaikovsky had no doubt himself that it was the finest music he had ever composed or would compose, a conviction in which many of his admirers share. The name 'Pathetique' was suggested by his brother, and though Tchaikovsky agreed, he changed his mind and wrote afterwards to the publisher asking him simply to call it Symphony No. 6.
