I was very impressed with Charles Hazelwood's previous documentary series, especially with Beethoven, so I watched this two-parter being a big lover of Tchaikovsky's music. And I loved it overall. My only minor problem is that throughout the series there are some gratuitous scenes with Tchaikovsky's secret sexual life, which felt a bit like padding. But everything else is so good though. The production values are exquisite, and the music of course is brilliant. Charles Hazelwood's observations are also quite informative, the script is beautifully written and the direction is strong, as are the pacing and sound. Ed Stoppard is not bad at all as Tchaikovsky, perhaps a tad dull at first, but as his material got better his performance became more passionate and heartfelt. So overall, I liked it a lot. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Review of Fortune and Tragedy
