Introduction to the course & historical context
With
Julia ZilberquitJulia Zilberquit sets the scene for Tchaikovsky's 'The Seasons', placing the piano cycle in its historical context before you start learning the pieces.
What's in the course
27 lessons (1h 58m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Discovering Tchaikovsky: The Maestro of Russian Music
Today, we will explore the world of the most respected and loved Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. I think he is one of the most performed Russian composers in the world. And I don't believe there is a single music lover who does not love and adore his operas, ballets, symphonies, chamber music, and, of course, solo piano music.
The Masterpiece: The Seasons
We will be discussing an absolute gem, a masterpiece from his piano miniatures cycle, The Seasons.
A Pioneering Composer
It's fair to say that not everybody knows that Tchaikovsky was the first Russian professional composer. He was born in 1840. By that time, composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart had already lived their lives and created their masterpieces. But in Russia, as we know, things come later.
The Turning Point: 1861
1861 was a very important year for Russian history.
- Serfdom, or slavery, was abolished.
- Cultural and social growth began.
The outstanding Russian pianist and conductor Anton Rubinstein started music classes in St. Petersburg, initially called the Russian Musical Society. Tchaikovsky was one of the first students there.
In 1862, the Russian Musical Society was officially established. Just a year later, Anton Rubinstein opened the first Russian conservatory in St. Petersburg, and, of course, Tchaikovsky was a student there as well.
The Rise of Conservatories
Four years later, in 1866, Anton's younger brother, Nicholas Rubinstein, who was also a very famous composer, pianist, and conductor, opened the Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky was very friendly with both brothers.
In 1861, a young man named Peter Jurgenson, born in Tallinn, Estonia, of Scandinavian descent, moved to Russia. He was so inspired by Nicholas Rubinstein that he started his own music publishing house.
- He began publishing musical scores and books about music.
- For half a century, it became the main Russian musical publishing house and one of the largest in the world.
Lifelong Friendship and Collaboration
In 1865, after Tchaikovsky graduated from the Conservatory, he and Jurgenson became lifelong friends. Jurgenson served as Tchaikovsky's advisor and confidant for the rest of his life.
After the 1917 October Revolution, the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin nationalized Jurgenson's publishing house by decree, and it became a state publishing house called Musica or Music.
In 2008, the current owner and CEO of the publishing house, Mark Zilberquid, revitalized Peter Jurgenson's legacy, forming a conglomerate with Musica Music and Peter Jurgenson. One of the most important efforts was publishing the complete catalog of Tchaikovsky's works, similar to what KTripletchel did for Mozart.
Editions of The Seasons
I wanted to show you two editions today of The Seasons that we will be using:
-
First Edition:
- Contains Tchaikovsky's autograph or text for 11 pieces out of 12 (for some reason, the April piece did not survive).
- Includes an article about the creation of the cycle and details about each piece.
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Second Edition:
- Features fingering options and numerous suggestions for switching hands to aid in learning.
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Russian-born American pianist Julia Zilberquit has earned critical acclaim as a recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist. She was praised by The New York Times as "an outstanding soloist" after her Carnegie Hall performance of Cesar Franck's symphonic poem Les Djinns for piano and orchestra with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra.
In 2014, Warner Classics released her CD Bach: Complete Solo Keyboard Concertos. This recording features the premiere of two Bach-Vivaldi Concerti Grossi arranged by Ms. Zilberquit for piano and orchestra, and was hailed as a "gorgeous rendition" by the prestigious Gramophone Magazine. Her arrangement of the Shostakovich Concertino for 2 Pianos, Op. 94 for piano and orchestra was premiered at Carnegie Hall; she has performed it worldwide to critical acclaim and recorded it with Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi. Other recordings include a solo recording, The Mystery of Bagatelles, released by Naxos. The CD was praised as a "superb performance" by The Washington Post, and described as an "adventurous program, sparkling with unusual clarity and pointillistic luminescence" in London's Piano Magazine.
Her recitals have taken place at major concert halls including New York's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Engagements at major international music festivals include appearances in Seattle, Colmar (France), Klangbogen (Vienna), Valery Gergiev's "White Nights" (St. Petersburg), Richter's "December Nights" (Moscow), "The Palaces of St. Petersburg," the Bard Music Festival in New York, and the Penderecki Festival (Poland).
A native of Moscow, Julia Zilberquit was born into a family of musicians. She graduated from the Moscow Gnessin School of Music and The Juilliard School (class of Bella Davidovich). She lives in New York City with her husband, son and daughter.
In this course she draws on that artistry to guide you through four movements of Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons" - March, April, June and October - so you can shape their poetry and colour at the keyboard yourself.
