Tchaikovsky, B: Two Pieces for Balalaika and Piano

Boris Alexandrovich Tchaikovsky (1925–96) was one of the more important Russian composers of the second half of the twentieth century.

His works were held in high regard and performed by renowned artists including Kirill Kondrashin, Rudolf Barshai, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Vassily Sinaisky, Mstislav Rostropovich, Galina Vishnevskaya, Igor Oistrakh and the Borodin Quartet.

Tchaikovsky’s style at its purest combines a paradoxical combination of simplicity and complete individuality. Many of his works are masterpieces; Galina Vishnevskaya described the ‘Four Poems by Josef Brodsky’, as ‘…this talented, wonderful opus…’.

The ‘Two Poems by Mikhail Lermontov’, written at the age of fifteen already have a confident melodic sweep with some unexpected harmonic turns in the largely diatonic piano accompaniment.

The String Trio, which shows the continued influence of his teacher, Shostakovich, was the work which signalled an end to Tchaikovsky’s early period and the beginning of his years of creative maturity. It is perhaps here that he first reveals his amazing gift as a painter musician, a poet musician.