145 mm x 205 mm

Symphony No 6 is the last symphonic composition by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The work at it continued from February 4 to August 12, 1893, when Tchaikovsky stayed in Klin, near Moscow. The drafts were over on March 24. Then there appeared the piano ?i??es ?? 72 and the romances to the verses by D. Rathaus. The journey via Europe preceded the completion ?f the Third piano concerto. Only then the time of the sixth symphony ????.The composer was making the orchestral score during the period ?f July 20 to August 12 already in Klin.

It was on the first stages ???? creative process, when Tchaikovsky implied to the symphony to be given the program. Its name was supposed to be ''The Programmatic Symphony'' for the listeners to understand its purport clearly. However, the programme itself was not to be announced. Later the composer considered that intention to be not quite logical, and following his brother Modest's advice he gave it the title ''Pathetic''.

The first public performance took place in Petersburg on October 16, 1893. The author himself conducted it. The premiere execution was accepted rather inadequately. The audience was left cold. Tchaikovsky wrote to ?. Yurgenson: ''It was not just simply disliked, only it seemed to have shocked the listeners. As to ??, I am proud of it ????, than of any other compositions of mine''.

The Sixth symphony was ? great success, when ?. Napravnik executed it during its second premiere on November 6, 1893 - twelve days after the author's death.