Capriccio Italien, Op. 45

Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) composed Capriccio Italien, Op. 45, in 1880 following a trip to Rome with his brother, Modest. Originally titled Italian Fantasia, the work incorporates the music he heard from his room and on the streets during Carnivale in a single fantasy, using the orchestra to create a uniquely Tchaikovsky sound portrait. It was first performed on December 18, 1880, by the Russian Musical Society Orchestra, Nikolay Rubinstein conducting, and it has been a mainstay in concert halls since. Instrumentation: 3(3rd dPicc).2+EH.2.2: 4.2+2Crnt.3.1: Timp.Perc(3): Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).