Ljuba Kazarnovskaya: The complete '6 romances Op. 27' (Tchaikovsky)

6 romances (Op. 27):
I. Na son gryadushchiy 00:00
II. Smotri, von oblako 03:21
III. Ne otkhodi ot meyna 07:59
IV. Vecher 10:53
V. Ali mat' menya roezhala 13:16
VI. Moy balovnitsa 16:45

Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich (1840-93) composer
Ljuba Kazarnovskaya -soprano
Ljuba Orfenova -piano

The history of these romances is undocumented. They were probably composed sometime between mid/late March (after the Six Romances, Op. 25) and 7/19 April 1875 (the date they were received by Pyotr Jurgenson, as noted on the manuscript).

The romance My Spoiled Darling (No. 6) survives in two versions. The second version, which was completed by 5/17 November 1890 has significant differences compared to the original, most notably the omission of the entire central episode, and the change of tempo marking from 'Allegro con spirito' to 'Allegretto con spirito'.

A letter from Boris Jurgenson to Sergey Taneyev of 7/20 January 1908 reveals more about the origins of the second version: "I am sending you P. I. Tchaikovsky's romance My Spoiled Darling in two versions—old and new. The new version dates from so long ago that we had completely forgotten about it, but for some reason Pyotr Ilyich made significant alterations, as you will see by comparing the new version against the old. However, we can only assume that he made the changes he set the new version aside (otherwise we would have published both). What do you think about resurrecting the old version? Do you happen to remember anything about this romance's history?".

Sergey Taneyev replied on 14/27 January 1908: "Until now Pyotr Ilyich's romance My Spoiled Darling has only been known to me in its earlier version. Since this romance has become long-established in its present form. it seems to me that if the two were to be published they should be distinguished as "original version" and "later reworking", or something of that sort. Various singers, having learned this romance in its present form, might only with some difficulty be persuaded to purchase a new, revised edition. The fact that the author did not consider it necessary to bring out the alternative version during his lifetime will cause people to be reluctant to discard the first version".

In its first edition the romance was published in its old form, in the second (from 1892) it appeared in its new version, albeit with the earlier plate number. This was probably one of the romances that Tchaikovsky wanted to revise for republication. It is possible that the romance was revised as a result of César Cui's criticism of "deviations from the verses of such a brilliant poet as Mickiewicz".

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