Czech Philharmonic ⬩ Season Opening Concert

“I have loved Tchaikovsky’s music as long as I can remember. As is usual with first loves, that feeling has never died.”

– Semyon Bychkov

Semyon Bychkov fell in love with Tchaikovsky already as a student. With the Czech Philharmonic, he recorded the composer’s complete major orchestral works for the Decca Classics label in 2019. About that project, he says: “My instinct told me this was the place where I wanted to do that because it is a Slavic orchestra, very close to the spirit of Russian music. For example, there is a close affinity between Dvořák’s music and Tchaikovsky’s. At the same time, however, this orchestra does not suffer from the cliches that Russian musicians are born with.”

Bychkov has studied the man and his music in detail, and that knowledge is the basis of his interpretations: “The pianist Sapelnikov said that Tchaikovsky did not have even the least desire to posture. He was sincerity itself. When reading the accounts of others who knew him well, a multifaceted personality emerges. On the one hand, he was an unbelievably joyous person who deeply loved the company of others, was very kind, and loved life. Then on the other hand, there is a lonely man filled with anxieties. Our interpretation must correspond to that. It isn’t just about playing beautiful notes.”

Seong-Jin Cho also engages in detailed study of works and of the composers themselves. Already as a student, the Korean pianist was dreaming of performing Ravel’s complete piano works one day. “I think Ravel was a perfectionist, a brilliant mind with very clear ideas. At the same time, we hear an incredible amount of colours in his compositions—even his piano music often has an orchestral sound. Ravel’s music also has a very emotional effect on me. I imagine a person with a gentle smile, but with tears in his eyes.”