Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62: Full Orchestra, Solo Strings with Ensemble, Solo Cello Part

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) wrote PEZZO CAPRICCIOSO in B minor, Op. 62 for solo cello and orchestra in one week in August of 1887. A somber and sober work, Tchaikovsky wrote the work in the midst of experiencing the death of his friend Nikolay Kondratyev, who was in the final throes of syphilis at the time. In a trip to Paris to visit his friends as a respite, he wrote the work for cellist Anatoliy Brandukov. Tchaikovsky wrote to Brandukov, "I have written a small cello piece, and would like you to look through it, and put the final touches to the cello part." He began the piano score two days after he wrote that letter and began orchestrating it a few days after that. The first performance took place in the piano accompaniment version on February 28, 1888, at a private home in Paris, with Brandukov as the soloist and the composer at the piano. Brandukov performed the solo at the orchestral premiere on November 25, 1889, in Moscow at a Russian Musical Society concert, Tchaikovsky conducting. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 4.0.0.0: Timp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set): Solo Cello in set. Reprint edition.