![]() "The overall performance, the ensemble, is just as good today as it was in the past, and the reason for that is very simple: the theatre continues to boast the presence of the incomparable E. How satisfied are you with the performance of your operas on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre nowadays in comparison with how it was earlier? The greater or lesser degree of inner affinity between a text and the music which illustrates it is the result of a mysterious process in the act of creation which does not depend on one's will, and which cannot be described or expressed in words." In operatic compositions the music illustrates, complements, and elucidates the text, but if a musical idea becomes fused with the words, how exactly does this fusion come about? But as a result of various obstacles it was only last year that I was able to carry out my decision." I inwardly vowed that one day I would set this story to music. This subject captivated me because of its poetic spirit, originality, and the profusion of lyrical moments. "Eight years ago there came into my hands an issue of the Russian Messenger which included a one-act play by the Danish writer Henrik Hertz, in a translation by F. Why did you choose precisely this subject? ![]() Everyone is eagerly awaiting the appearance of Iolanta on our theatre's stage. Both of these genres of music have given us equally great paragons." "Tous les genres sont bons, hors le genre ennuyeux'. Which genre of music do you prefer-the operatic or the symphonic? A million years hence, assuming that music as we know it still exists then, those very same seven notes of our diatonic scale, in their melodic and harmonic combinations, and animated by rhythm, will continue to serve as the source of new musical ideas." melody, harmony, and rhythm, is undoubtedly inexhaustible. "No, that isn't right: the material for music, i.e. Some people think that in our times it is difficult for a composer to produce something that is truly new, without repeating to a certain extent what has already been expressed before by the great masters of the art of music. The majority of my ideas, by the way, come to me during my daily walks, and, in view of my exceptionally poor musical memory, I take a notebook with me." Musical ideas spring up in me as soon as I have abstracted myself from considerations and cares that are extraneous to my work and set about the task I am working on. absolutely regular, always during the same hours, without allowing myself any indulgence whatsoever. "My system of work is very much like a craftsman's, i.e. I would be interested to know how musical ideas spring up in your mind? I never work late in the evening or at night." I work from ten o'clock in the morning until one o'clock in the afternoon, and from five to eight p.m. "In order to work I retire to my refuge in Klin or to some quiet spot abroad and then lead a hermit's life. "I live on an estate near the town of Klin, but the life I lead is rather a nomadic one, especially in the last ten years." Always calm and gentle, he does, however, become very animated when speaking of music, and in his words one can sense genuine enthusiasm and unlimited devotion to his cherished art. is notable for his uncommon modesty and he is exceptionally brief and reserved when talking about himself. I., the contents of this conversation.įirst of all, we should point out one peculiarity: P. Tchaikovsky, and he said so many interesting things which are of value to those who ardently love art, that we consider it highly appropriate to set forth, with the kind permission of P. We had the opportunity to converse with P. Our renowned composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is currently in Saint Petersburg, where in a short while the following new works by him will be produced on the stage of the Mariinsky Theatre: the one-act opera Iolanta and the two-act ballet The Nutcracker. English text copyright © 2009 Luis Sundkvist
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