Blossom, Potter

Sunday, July 22
Tschaikovsky Symphony No. 5, Andrew Grams Conductor

Saturday, July 21
Lord of the Rings, Howard Shore Conductor

Number 1032 on the waiting list for the new Harry Potter
book. Just over 900 were ordered. Will be interesting
to see how long the wait will be.

Tschaikovsky's Fifth Symphony

Tchaikovsky is well known for his ballets, although it was only in his last years, with his last two ballets, that his contemporaries came to really appreciate his finer qualities. Russian folk music elements run through his works.

Tchaikovsky's earlier symphonies are generally optimistic works of nationalistic character. The later symphonies are more intensely dramatic, with the Fourth a breakthrough

The most famous of these is the Sixth. The Sixth and Fifth are recognized as highly original examples of symphonic form and are frequently performed.

In the 10 years between the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies, Tchaikovsky also wrote four orchestral suites. He originally intended to designate one or more of these as a "symphony" but was persuaded to alter the title. The four suites are nonetheless symphonic in character.