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柴可夫斯基除了六首有序號的交響曲外,還有一首無序號的b小調標題交響曲《曼弗雷德》,作品58號。這是柴可夫斯基受“五人強力集團”之一的巴拉基列夫委托,根據拜倫的同名詩劇的四個場麵作於1885年,1886年3月23日首演。在這部詩劇中,曼弗雷德對知識和生活感到厭倦和失望,從而放棄對生活的任何探求。他不願再在人群中生活,獨自躲在阿爾卑斯山上人跡不到的一座堡寨中,拒絕向諸命運之神和眾精靈之王屈膝,拒絕修道院院長的挽救,一心尋求遺忘,寧願在孤寂中死去。柴可夫斯基對這部作品的創作表現了極大的熱情,作品寫完後他給巴拉基列夫寫信道:“《曼弗雷德》完成了……在我一生中向來沒有這樣努力過,也沒有由於工作而覺得這樣疲倦,交響曲是依照您的提示而寫成四個樂章……自然,它是獻給您的。”
作品共分四個樂章,也就是四個場麵:
The Manfred Symphony in B minor, Op. 58, is a programmatic symphony composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky between May and September 1885. It is based on the poem "Manfred" written by Lord Byron in 1817. It is the only one of Tchaikovsky's symphonies he completed that is not numbered (the Symphony in E flat is a conjectural work left unfinished by the composer) and was written between the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies.
Like the fantasy-overture Romeo and Juliet, Tchaikovsky wrote the Manfred Symphony at the behest of nationalist composer Mily Balakirev, who provided a program written by critic Vladimir Stasov. Stasov had sent the program to Balakirev in 1868, hoping that Balakirev would write a symphony based on it. Balakirev did not feel capable of carrying out this project and sent the program to French composer Hector Berlioz, whose programmatic works had genuinely impressed him. Berlioz refused, claiming old age and ill health, and returned the program to Balakirev. Balakirev kept the program until he reestablished contact with Tchaikovsky in the early 1880s.
The Manfred Symphony is the only programmatic symphonic work by Tchaikovsky in more than one movement. He initially considered the work one of his best, and in a typical reversal of opinion later considered destroying all but the opening movement. The symphony was greeted with mixed reviews, some finding much to laud in it, and others feeling that its programmatic aspects only weakened it. Manfred remained rarely performed for many years, probably due to its length and complexity. It has been recorded with increasing frequency but is still seldom heard in the concert hall.