In the autumn of 1880, Tchaikovsky worked on two pieces simultaneously. One, commissioned for the unveiling of a memorial in Moscow, became his big and raucous “1812 Overture.” The other was the Serenade for Strings — a lovely and heartfelt work clearly of a different mood from the bombastic overture. Here, the composer intentionally evokes a sense of wonder and freshness from Mozart’s time and style, creating a fresh sense of nostalgia, serenity, and beauty.
In the autumn of 1880, Tchaikovsky worked on two pieces simultaneously. One, commissioned for the unveiling of a memorial in Moscow, became his big and raucous “1812 Overture.” The other was the Serenade for Strings — a lovely and heartfelt work clearly of a different mood from the bombastic over...