Tchaikowsky: Francesca da Romini

I recently had the privilege of hearing this work performed live by my local professional orchestra (Louisville Orchestra) and considered it worth mentioning on this forum. I, for one, had never heard nor heard of this piece by Tchaikowsky prior to this performance though I consider myself a fan of his music, particularly his symphonies and concertos (his violin concerto is one of the best concertos from the Romantic period). Anyway, it is a supremely dramatic and arresting work, distinctly Tchaikowsky yet somewhat thicker in texture (more like Brahms) than his usual, sectionalized style. I believe anyone who is a fan of Romanticism or Tchaikowsky will be moved and enlightened by this dark, deftly scored piece.

The title, Francesca da Rimni, refers to a beautiful woman in Dante’s Divine Comedy who is condemned to hell, which takes the form of an eternal windstorm, for being an adulteresses. She and her extra-marital partner (the brother of her husband) are both forced to wander endlessly through the storm together, though unable to touch or speak to one another. The music employs chromatic runs throughout to represent the torments of hell and of the lover’s yearning, unquenchable affections.

This piece is an obscure gem by the composer that I wished I had heard a lot sooner in my career as a listener and composer. For a good recording, I recommend Neeme Jarvi’s interpretation with the Gothenburg Symphony which can be found here.

Would anyone who has heard the piece before like to comment?