Sunday Classics preview: Speaking of Tchaikovsky, can there be Russian music without soul?

by Ken

Is it possible to talk about Russian music without eventually using the word "soul" or "soulful"?

One of the things we're going to be listening for tomorrow is the soulfulness of Tchaikovsky, and here is a sample. First we have Fritz Kreisler playing his own arrangement of the second movement, the famous Andante cantabile, from Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1. Then we'll hear the quartet original. Finally we'll hear the complete quartet.

Andante cantabile (from String Quartet No. 1 in D, Op. 11; arr. Kreisler)

Fritz Kreisler, violin. RCA/BMG, recorded May 11, 1916

String Quartet No. 1 in D, Op. 11:
ii. Andante cantabile

Keller Quartet. Teldec, recorded c 1992

String Quartet No. 1 in D, Op. 11:
i. Moderato e semplice
ii. Andante cantabile
iii. Scherzo: Allegro non tanto -- Trio
iv. Finale: Allegro giusto -- Allegro vivace

St. Petersburg Quartet. Sony, recorded December 1993

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