It’s poetry, musicality, and fine humor that make evergreen texts of Nikolay Gogol so attractive in every times. Gogol’s admiration of simple people’s life – with its poetry and day-to-day routine, its reality and fantasy – was probably close to Pyotr Tchaikovsky. And when a music society announced a competition for the best opera version of “Christmas Eve” Pyotr Ilyich decided to give it a try. Once started, the process of composing carried him away, and he loved his own creation all his life. Moreover, the new piece introduces a brand new genre of Russian classical music: opera in lyrical-comical style. In the vast Tchaikovsky’s catalogue, there’s no opera as light and pleasant as this one, where Ukranian traditions meet everyday life of St. Petersburg, and exciting songs flow into solemn polonaise…

It was the premiere of “Cherevichky” that started Tchaikovsky’s conducting career. A pair of tiny silver boots was a souvenir to the composer for his debut as conductor. Themes of main arias are engraved on the boots. It a very Gogol-esque souvenir: a total mistery, for nobody still knows, who made them, or where they come from…

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1930. It is the first symphony orchestra of Russian radio. Some historical recordings of the Orchestra were released by such labels as Sony, JVC, Philips, Warner Classics, and Melodiya. In addition to performances at major venues throughout the world, the ensemble continues its active educational programme. In 1993 the orchestra was renamed in honour of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, for deeper understanding of his music.

“For me, Tchaikovsky is the composer who is the soul of Russia, - Vladimir Fedoseev once said. – His golden hands bring Russia to the whole world. He is so heartfelt that people in every country love him, and, for example, Japanese consider him their own genius!”