Symphony No. 4 in F minor opus 36 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the first symphony in the history of Russian music — a psychological drama comparable in strength to Beethoven’s symphonies. Symphony No. 1 was written ten years earlier.

Symphony No. 4 was first performed in Moscow on February 22, 1878 by the orchestra conducted by Nikolay Rubinstein, a friend and colleague of the composer.

Tchaikovsky paid considerable attention to the image of fate in his work. The composer himself clearly emphasized this theme in the program for Symphony No. 4,

The composer had different attitudes towards his compositions: he changed his mind about some of them several times (the opera “Mazeppa”, the symphony “Manfred”, Symphony No. 5). There were also those that he hated (the opera “The Oprichnik”) and even destroyed (the operas “Undina” and “The Voyevoda”, and the symphonic ballad “The Voyevoda”). Tchaikovsky was always proud of his Symphony No. 4.

On the title page, where the first movement of Symphony No. 4 starts, Tchaikovsky famously proclaimed:

It was a manifestation of his enormous gratitude for Nadezhda von Meck’s moral and financial support during a difficult period for him in 1877.

Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck’s reaction to the symphony and dedication was enthusiastic,