Tchaikovsky’s final symphony, known as the ‘Pathétique’, is a work of haunting beauty and emotional depth—a journey from darkness to fragile light. From its doom-laden opening to the desperate, fading sorrow of its final notes, this is music that doesn’t just tell a story, it feels one. Tchaikovsky never revealed the symphony’s hidden narrative, but with it he created new, intensely personal possibilities for the musical form. With Principal Guest Conductor Gianandrea Noseda leading the London Symphony Orchestra, this recording captures the full force of Tchaikovsky’s vision. Noseda’s deep connection to the Russian musical tradition brings out the symphony’s vivid colours, sweeping melodies, and aching vulnerability. The album then journeys further into the heart of Russian history with Mussorgsky’s Prelude to Khovanshchina, a hauntingly atmospheric piece that evokes the break of dawn over the Moscow River, as the city slowly stirs to life.

London Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda