To listen simply press on 
the audio player below
(you can also download the file –
click on the three dots on the right):
Tchaikovsky’s first effort:
The finished product and a touch of nostalgia for us – a performance by Eugene Ormandy & the Philadelphia Orchestra:
Do you agree with Balakirev that the finished product – while still not perfect!! – is a vast improvement on the original?
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The Art of Listening 
Really good way to run the class, and so repeatable!
Well done.
Phil
Hi Phil,
Glad you enjoyed it.
Chris
Fascinating. Thank you very much.
I loved the final version
Thanks, Elizabeth
The final version is, I think, some of the best Tchaikovsky (Balakirev notwithstanding!)
I did watch and listened ( and will again) and enjoyed the music but was a bit surprised that we started with 19th century heavy orchestral pieces. I expected Shakespeare poems set as songs and Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s dream but expect they are yet to come. Gabriella
Hi Gabriella,
I thought I’d start at the really well known end of things. But you’re right, the songs and the Mendelssohn are yet to come.
Excellent! I enjoyed it.
Thankyou Chris. I have watched the video & enjoyed the music.
Excellent class and v effective approach. Dare I say it, I preferred the first version. Maybe something to do with the style of the two performances. All that phat Philadelphia tone can be a bit wearing.
Much looking forward to the other classes and it’s good to be able to listen on catch-up if you cannot make it on the day.
Hugh.
I would have agreed with Balakirev at the time but kept out of Tchaikovsky’s way, even though he must have been a very tolerant man to accept the opinion of a lesser composer and just one fee for his efforts.
Graham Morris
Thank you so much Chris for making this course available in this way – I really enjoyed this first posting. Though I have to admit that I do miss the Werther’s – suppose I could always buy a pack and enjoy one half way through!
Loking forward to the next installment.
Caryl
Hi Chris, how great it was to see your lovely chops and the glorious music was a bonus. I’m looking forward to more. Diolch yn fawr and I hope you are keeping well during these difficult times x
I’m a bit slow with my reply. It’s very interesting – I hadn’t realised that composers agreed so readily to different versions of the same composition being given the same title. You end up wondering what you’re listening to. Did Shakespeare similarly produce different scripts for his plays?
Thank you for making this happen.
Stella