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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique"
13 June 2026
Background
- Written in Klin, between February and August 1893; Tchaikovsky's final completed Symphony.
- The French "Pathétique" means passionate, emotional or arousing pity. It is reflective of concurrent suffering.
- First performed in Saint Petersburg on 28 October 1893, led by Tchaikovsky himself, nine days before his death.
Recordings
Symphony No. 6 Pathétique
MusicAeterna
Cond. Teodor Currentzis · Sony
- 🏆 Diapason d'Or (2017)
- 🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2017): Nouveaute
- 🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2018): Disc of the Month
- 🏆 BBC Music Magazine Awards (2019): Finalist Orchestral
Symphony No. 6
Philharmonia Orchestra
Cond. Charles Mackerras · Signum Classics
- 🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2011): Editor's Choice
Symphonies Nos. 4, 5 & 6 "Pathétique"
Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
Cond. Evgeny Mravinsky · Deutsche Grammophon
- 🏆 Presto Greatest Recordings of the 1960s
- 🏆 Radio 3 (2007): Building a Library First Choice
Symphony No. 6
Berliner Philharmoniker
Cond. Kirill Petrenko · Berliner Philharmoniker
- 🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2019): Critics' Choice
- 🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2019): Editor's Choice
- 🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2019): Finalist
Symphonies 3, 4 and 6
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Cond. Vasily Petrenko · Onyx
- 🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2017): Disc of the Month
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Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.