Essential Tchaikovsky, Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Performer: Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Spivakov, Lucia Popp, Vag Papian, Conductor: Vladimir Fedoseyev, Riccardo Muti, Herbert von Karajan, Mstislav Rostropovich, Number of Discs: 2, Length: 2 Hours 35 Mins. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's output includes some of the most popular concertos and symphonies in the entire concert repertoire, several important operas and the three classic ballets - Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker - that are performed by every ballet company the world over. Many of his compositions such as his First Piano Concerto and his Violin Concerto were originally savaged by his musical peers but the public disagreed and they are now ranked among the most popular and best loved works of the Romantic period. His short orchestral works have also become firm favorites and no popular concert would be complete without one or other of his Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, the March Slave or the famous '1812' Overture. Extracts from all of these works, as well as from his greatest symphonies and concertos, are included in this album.