PROGRAM NOTES     	 	
Of course, the “Fate” idea in the Fourth Symphony’s program had a more immediate personal 
meaning for Tchaikovsky, one that he didn’t need to spell out to his friend. Mme von Meck knew all 
about the turmoil the composer had gone through at the time of writing the symphony: 1877 was the 
year of his disastrous marriage to Antonina Milyukova, which only lasted a few days. Tchaikovsky’s 
correspondence with von Meck (he was never to meet her in person) began in the same year; the 
knowledge that there was someone he could confide in only made the outburst of his emotions more 
intense. 
Ultimately, what makes Tchaikovsky’s Fourth a masterpiece is neither the presence of a program 
nor the successful musical expression of one. Its impact is due, rather, to the sheer musical power 
of its themes, the force with which they are developed, and the boundless imagination displayed in 
tonality, rhythm, orchestration, and musical character.
© P. L., Ph. D., Program Annotator, The Cleveland Orchestra (1990-2007),  
Visiting Associate Professor, Bard College (2007-2024)
16   Santa Rosa Symphony	
(707) 546-8742

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