Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his Symphony No. 5 during the summer of 1885. During this period, Tchaikovsky also worked on a “Fantasy-Overture,” based upon William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Tchaikovsky completed his Fifth Symphony on August 26. He put the finishing touches on the Hamlet “Fantasy-Overture” on October 19. Tchaikovsky conducted the premiere of his Symphony No. 5 in St. Petersburg on November 17, 1888.
The progression of the Symphony No. 5—with its presentation, frequent reappearance, and dramatic metamorphosis of a central leitmotif—certainly seems to hint at some extra-musical significance. And among Tchaikovsky’s sketches for the Fifth are words from the composer suggesting the Symphony depicts a confrontation with Fate.
Here is the Oslo Philharmonic to play this music for you:
