- Tchaikovsky composed Hamlet in 1888 at the same time as he was writing his fifth symphony.
- The composer had already written two Shakespearean fantasy overtures prior to Hamlet – The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet.
- Hamlet offers five contrasting themes that allude to the characters and circumstances of the play rather than following a linear narrative journey.1
- Tchaikovsky dedicated the score of Hamlet to Norwegian composer, Edvard Grieg.
Sources
- Roland John Wiley, “Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il′yich,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed July 25, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000051766.
Cut IDs
40161 12693 15673