Tchaikovsky Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5

conducted by Andris Nelsons Although he didn’t give the symphony a nickname, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 has long been known as the “Little Russian” symphony, referring to a now-outmoded nickname for Ukraine. Composed in the early 1870s, the symphony makes brilliant use of traditional songs of Ukraine, where Tchaikovsky spent many summers. The Fifth Symphony, like the Fourth, employs a recurring theme representing the source of emotional turmoil. Tchaikovsky’s gift for melody, charm, and brilliant orchestration balances the intense expressivity of this late work.