In general, Pyotr Tchaikovsky was a deep-seated sceptic – particularly when it came to himself. Time and again, he felt he was not creative enough, fearing he would fail to meet his own standards and those of others. His Fifth Symphony, too, was composed in the shadow of relentless self-criticism and all manner of agonising existential questions. Was the new work not, after all, a failure, a complete misstep? The rather modest success of the premiere in 1888 only reinforced the composer’s doubts. It was only after a triumphantly celebrated performance in Hamburg the following year that Tchaikovsky came to terms with his Fifth, which today ranks among the most popular works in the Romantic repertoire. This is probably also because the symphony deals with a theme that concerns each of us directly: fate in all its unpredictability. That is why the work is also known as the »Fate Symphony«. And indeed, the audience experiences a rollercoaster ride between gnawing unease, exuberant exuberance and deep resignation.

Eivind Groven

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Apr 25, 2027

From the bottom of my heart · Gürzenich-Orchester Köln

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