Valery Gergiev conducts Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique"

Three Russian composers dominate the repertoire of the Mariinsky Orchestra: Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. All three were famed for the diversity of their work composing opera, ballets, concertos and symphonies that remain popular to this day.

However, few works like Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 can lay claim to be the most popular. The composer left a gap of ten years between his 4th and 5th symphonies, then a further five years between the 5th and 6th. Although all three are united by a common idea – one man facing his destiny – the final symphony is unquestionably darker and more tragic, justifying its title, “Pathetic”.