Moderato semplice ma espressivo encourages you not to press the tempo at the opening. It’s worth taking Tchaikovsky’s expressive marking seriously.
The Tolstoy quotation sets the scene and directs your approach to a piece that envelops you with gentle warmth. ‘A little corner of peaceful bliss, the night dressed in twilight the little fire is dying in the fireplace, and the candle has burned out.' The piece is true to its subtitle, ‘At the fireside’, which is preceded by these words from Tolstoy: The warmth of January is immediate from the opening bars. June (Barcarolle) and October (Autumn Song) are two favourites of mine but each month is a musical gem, preceded by a few lines from Russian literature or poetry, and each quotation fits perfectly with its musical counterpart. And don’t stop at January! Invest in a complete score of The Seasons and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. If you are familiar with Swan Lake, then you may recognise many stylistic and melodic similarities in this piano cycle which Tchaikovsky wrote in 1875-6. The Seasons captures the heart and soul of Russian music.
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