Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1-3

Tchaikovsky's early symphonies are full of rich expressive melodies – something for which he had a natural talent. They contain influences of Russian nationalism and folk tunes, particularly in the Second Symphony ("Little Russian") and the First, which hints at a Russian landscape. The choreographer George Balanchine exploited the dance-like nature of the Third Symphony by using it as the basis for the final part of his ballet masterpiece, Jewels.