Product Description
Capriccio italien, Op. 45, is a vibrant orchestral fantasy by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, lasting approximately 15 minutes. Composed between January and May of 1880, it premiered on December 18, 1880 (New Style calendar) in Moscow, performed by the Orchestra of the Imperial Russian Musical Society under the direction of Nikolay Rubinstein. The work was dedicated to renowned cellist Karl Davydov and was originally titled Italian Fantasia, in homage to Mikhail Glinkas own nationalistic fantasy works, such as his Spanish pieces.
Background and Inspiration
Tchaikovsky conceived Capriccio italien during a restorative trip to Rome, where he traveled with his brother Modest in the wake of his troubled marriage to Antonina Miliukova. Deeply inspired by the sights and sounds of Italy, the composer noted in a letter to his patroness Nadezhda von Meck:
I have already completed the sketches for an Italian fantasia on folk tunes, for which I believe a good fortune may be predicted. It will be effective, thanks to the delightful tunes which I have succeeded in assembling, partly from anthologies, partly from my own ears in the streets.
Tchaikovsky's admiration for Italian culture was evidenthe even described Raphael as the "Mozart of painting." The composition incorporates Italian folk melodies and carnival music, vividly capturing the festive spirit of Rome and the rhythms of street life.
A Conductors Perspective
Conductor JoAnn Falletta reflects on the piece's enduring appeal:
We are hearing foreigners' views of Italy. Capriccio italien has great power, even though it's practically a pops piece. Tchaikovsky knows what the instruments can do in a virtuoso way. He brings them to their limit in the most thrilling fashion. He has a gift for mixing families of instruments just rightcantabile strings alongside mighty brass. I hear the ballet element in everything Tchaikovsky writes, in his sense of rhythm. You can practically dance to this score!
This arrangement is for solo flute.
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