1882-1883
1. Op. 51. Six pieces for pianoforte: (1) “Valse de Salon,” (2) “Polka peu dansante,” (3) “Menuetto scherzoso,” (4) “Natha—Valse,” (5) “Romance,” (6) “Valse sentimentale.”
These pieces were commissioned by the brothers Jurgenson and composed at Kamenka about the end of August.
2. Verses upon the theme of the “Slavsia,” from Glinka’s A Life for the Tsar, winding up with the Russian National Anthem, for chorus and orchestra.
This chorus was sung by 7,500 students in Moscow, May 10th (22nd), 1883, at the moment when the Emperor Alexander III appeared at the Red Staircase upon his solemn entry to the Kremlin. (Manuscript only.)
3. Festal Coronation March for orchestra. Commissioned by the city of Moscow, first performed at Sokolinky, on May 23rd (June 4th), at a fête in honour of the Coronation. Jurgenson.
4. Mazeppa, an opera, in three acts and six scenes. The subject is taken from Poushkin’s poem, Poltava, arranged by Bourenin and the composer himself.
The opera was first performed at the Imperial Opera, Moscow, February 3rd (15th), 1884. Jurgenson. For the plot, see [Appendix B].
Besides the above, Tchaikovsky began his Second Suite for orchestra during the summer of 1883.
1883 TO JANUARY, 1885