Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s first tour of Europe started in December 1887. The tour covered several European countries. The composer had previously been abroad — he had visited England, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. But a tour of that scale was the composer’s first.
During that trip, Tchaikovsky performed in Prague for the very first time and it was a great success. ‘There was so much admiration, and not for me, but for our dear Russia’, — he wrote in his diary after one of the concerts. They were waiting for the composer in the Czech Republic. In 1882, the country already hosted the international premiere of The Maid of Orleans. At the railway station, Tchaikovsky was greeted by a huge crowd of fans who accompanied him to the carriage.
Tchaikovsky had two concerts in Prague. He was able to use a hall at the National Theatre and the Rudolfinum concert hall which had opened two years prior. The composer was conducting those two performances himself.
He later thought of that night as one of the happiest moments of his life. In his diary, he called it the minute of absolute happiness.
The program of the first concert included Romeo and Juliet, the 1812 Solemn Overture, Piano Concerto No. 1, the elegy from Orchestral Suite No. 3, and the Violin Concerto. The program of the second night included the Serenade for Strings, the final part of Suite No. 3, the 1812 Solemn Overture, and piano pieces performed by the composer’s student Alexander Siloti. The 2nd act of the Swan Lake closed the concert.
Later, on February 2, Tchaikovsky was attending the meeting of the “Umělecká beseda” forum of Czech writers, artists, and musicians. They elected the composer an honorary member of their club and presented him with an album featuring thirteen lithographs from pictures of Czech artists.
The album was decorated with a laurel branch, a coat of arms of the Czech Republic, and a “PC” monogram made of garnets. A festive banquet was organized in honor of Tchaikovsky, where the composer gave a speech in which he praised famous Czechs who devoted their lives to musical activities in Russia.
During that trip, Tchaikovsky performed in Prague for the very first time and it was a great success. ‘There was so much admiration, and not for me, but for our dear Russia’, — he wrote in his diary after one of the concerts. They were waiting for the composer in the Czech Republic. In 1882, the country already hosted the international premiere of The Maid of Orleans. At the railway station, Tchaikovsky was greeted by a huge crowd of fans who accompanied him to the carriage.
Tchaikovsky had two concerts in Prague. He was able to use a hall at the National Theatre and the Rudolfinum concert hall which had opened two years prior. The composer was conducting those two performances himself.
He later thought of that night as one of the happiest moments of his life. In his diary, he called it the minute of absolute happiness.
The program of the first concert included Romeo and Juliet, the 1812 Solemn Overture, Piano Concerto No. 1, the elegy from Orchestral Suite No. 3, and the Violin Concerto. The program of the second night included the Serenade for Strings, the final part of Suite No. 3, the 1812 Solemn Overture, and piano pieces performed by the composer’s student Alexander Siloti. The 2nd act of the Swan Lake closed the concert.
Later, on February 2, Tchaikovsky was attending the meeting of the “Umělecká beseda” forum of Czech writers, artists, and musicians. They elected the composer an honorary member of their club and presented him with an album featuring thirteen lithographs from pictures of Czech artists.
The album was decorated with a laurel branch, a coat of arms of the Czech Republic, and a “PC” monogram made of garnets. A festive banquet was organized in honor of Tchaikovsky, where the composer gave a speech in which he praised famous Czechs who devoted their lives to musical activities in Russia.
