Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition & Tchaikovsky's Piano Concert No. 1

Artists

Concertgebouw

The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam was built as a result of a public campaign aimed at financing a new Philharmonic hall. A grand Neoclassical concert hall topped with a symbolic Apollo´s lyre, it opened in 1888. In the late 20th century the Concertgebouw was renovated in order to improve the acoustics and add more space for visitors. The magnificent organ, after almost a century of service, was also restored and modernised. The Concertgebouw hosts around 600 concerts every year, ranging from big symphonic performances to jazz and pop concerts. Conveniently located at the beautiful Museumplein (Museum Square) with the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum right next to it, everyone will find something to their taste in one of the finest concert halls in the world!

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Symphony No. 6, written in 1893, is Tchaikovsky’s last symphony which he considered his finest work. Its nickname ‘Pathetique’ suggests that the work contains deep and profound contemplations about life and death. Its music is dark and solemn with the exception of the second waltz movement. Many critics saw this symphony as an authobiographical expression of the composer’s uneasy life. The 6th Symphony premiered on 28 October 1893 and was given good reviews but didn’t make a sensation. Nine days later the composer died. After his death the symphony was performed once again at the tribute concert and that time, the audience was deeply touched by the poignant music and gave proper credit to it.