On this day in Moscow, the Russian composer Tchaikovsky’s renowned 1812 Overture (The Year 1812, Solemn Overture, Op. 49) had its first public performance under a tent, near the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The Cathedral, commissioned in 1812 by Tsar Alexander I to commemorate the Russian victory over Napoleon’s seemingly invincible French Army, was nearing completion in 1880. The following year would see the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Alexander II, and in 1882 the All-Russia Arts and Industry Exhibition was due to take place in Moscow. Tchaikovsky therefore accepted the suggestion that he write a grand commemorative piece for use in all the upcoming festivities, and composed the Overture in just six weeks in the autumn of 1880. Although he personally felt that his work would be “very loud and noisy, but without artistic merit”, it was the 1812 Overture that was destined to make the Tchaikovsky estate exceptionally wealthy.
First Public Performance of the 1812 Overture
20th August 1882