Ensemble Milestone

The Slavonic Dances, Dvořák's masterpiece, were originally written for piano four hands, but the composer himself arranged them into an orchestral version. The melodies are based on dances from Eastern Europe, but the melancholy melodies are Dvořák's originals, and the combination is exquisite. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 was written at a turning point in his life with his unhappy marriage and the arrival of a powerful patron. The opening fanfare is intense, but as the piece progresses, it takes on a Slavic air, and the three-movement trio is like a dance. Enjoy this fateful piece that changed the lives of two composers.