About the work
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29, composed in the summer of 1875 and premiered in Moscow on 19 November 1875 under Nikolai Rubinstein, holds a special place among his symphonies. It is the only one of his six symphonies in a major key and the only one in five movements. Its nickname, the "Polish", comes not from the composer but from the London conductor August Manns, alluding to the polonaise rhythm (Tempo di polacca) of the finale. The work was written in close proximity to Tchaikovsky's first great ballet, Swan Lake, and is suffused with its dance-like spirit.
Plot
The symphony unfolds across five contrasting movements. The first opens with a sombre, funeral-march-like introduction that gives way to a radiant Allegro brillante. There follows a graceful Alla tedesca, a waltz-like German dance of floating elegance. At its heart lies the Andante elegiaco, a lyrical, melancholy song of great tenderness. A mercurial Scherzo leads to the festive finale in polonaise rhythm, which closes the symphony with splendid, almost ceremonial brilliance. In this sequence of march, dance, elegy and courtly grandeur, Tchaikovsky reveals his feeling for character and colour.
Cultural significance
Although the Third is heard in the concert hall less often than the popular final three symphonies, it is regarded as a fascinating transitional work in which Tchaikovsky fuses his symphonic language with his love of dance. It became especially well known through George Balanchine, who based several of its movements on his ballet Diamonds – the third part of the evening Jewels – thereby bringing the work to international ballet audiences. In this way the "Polish" uniquely links the concert and stage traditions and remains a rewarding piece for rediscovery.