Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Seasons & Dumka

The present recording presents a well-matched programme comprising two piano works by Pyotr (Il’yich) Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): ‘The Seasons’ Op. 37a – Twelve Character Pieces, 1875/76, and the Dumka (Scène rustique russe / Russian rural scene,) Op. 59, in C minor, 1885/1886. Both compositions have ‘scenic’ subtitles: ‘The Seasons’ are characteristic scenes, the Dumka a Russian village scene. The topic of seasons in art Since time immemorial, the seasons of the year have played a major part in the arts. They symbolize the eternal cycle of nature, the relentless progress of time, the coming and going of people and things, the process of decay and renewal. Thus they have come to stand for the phases of human life. In the fine arts, human figures were often used in allegorical manner.