Tchaikovsky - Invitation to the Trepak, op.72 no.18

[andhow04]

i first heard the eighteen pieces, op.72 in a recital in Carnegie Hall by Pletnev and was really blown away. he later published a live recording from the same year, but a different venue, which i have. these pieces are quite difficult partly because Tchaikovsky was really not a  pianist and many passages are not very pleasant. but the music is so breath taking!

here is the final piece of the set, the Invitation to the Trepak (after the dramatic intro you will hear the same Trepak rhythm as from the Nutcracker)  this piece is so great in so many ways. it is hard to play and you will hear that i did not achieve every single note but i still recommend to play it !

not only did pletnev record it but also it was recorded, along with the complete piano works of Tch,. by Viktoria Postnikova, a pianist not known in the west but highly recommended. i hope you enjoy this meagre effort

[lelle]

I thought that was great, not meagre at all! Like dude why would you say this is meagre 

[anacrusis]

Bravo! Great piece and performance! When you say "this piece is so great in so many ways." you have me curious, can you elaborate on in which ways you think the piece is great? 

[andhow04]

I thought that was great, not meagre at all! Like dude why would you say this is meagre 

haha thanks just comparing it to those great pianists i mentioned

[andhow04]

Bravo! Great piece and performance! When you say "this piece is so great in so many ways." you have me curious, can you elaborate on in which ways you think the piece is great? 

thanks !

i think it's great because of the character, the theme is really simple, and very short, but tchaikovsky is able to give so many different versions of it, lightning fast. so you can really change your touch and approach and techniques you are using all the time. i also like the introduction, how a big grand melody keeps getting interrupted by the trepak rhythm and then it finally breaks through. just a great piece altogether and good for an encore perhaps or a little slavic dance set!!