Tchaikovsky: The Seasons

Although Tchaikovsky is not primarily known for this piano music (think, rather, symphonies, ballets and concertos), The Seasons is the work of a composer clearly enamoured by the solo piano. The suite of 12 pieces, describing and reflecting on a characteristic of each month, was commissioned in 1875 by the magazine Nouvellist. Each piece was originally preceded by lines from a selection of Russian poets. Tchaikovsky responded to the idea with enthusiasm and not a little self-effacement: “I will try not to disgrace myself and hope to please you,” he wrote to the publisher. Beginning in January with roaring fire to keep the biting Russian winter at bay, Tchaikovsky moves on to the bustle of a February parade, the promise of spring, the long nights of summer and autumn’s plentiful harvests. And, finally, the magic of a Christmas, all but guaranteed to be white. But these pieces are much more than simple portraits, says Lim. “They bring back forgotten feelings from deep within the heart,” he says, “memories that briefly return to the present, only to blur and fade again.” Yunchan Lim’s recording of The Seasons combines majesty and poetry, plugging into the work’s essential innocence of character. Not an easy task, as the Korean pianist tells Apple Music Classical: “This work must never be played in a generic, student-like manner,” he advises. “To truly move someone’s heart demands endless hours of deep, heartfelt practice.”