What a good topic! Rediscovering his works is always exciting. A few days ago I popped in his Serenade for Strings, which I hadn't listened to in years (my ecclectic tastes constantly change in regard to music listening) and also, because I ahd the wonderful opportunity to dance in Serenade I couldn't listen to the music objecively without thinking about that particular ballet. Before performing it, I listed to his Serenade for Strings with a different ear. Now a few years have passed since performing that, and now am finally able to listen to it without a huge balletic association. As for his other ballet works, there is always an overwhelming association with the choreography so I just don't bother. Serenade for Strings always holds a new surprise for me, whether it is because of a different recording, or a slight nuance, etc. Tchaikovsky is just a blast sometimes
PS: How do other dancers feel when knowing a piece of music, and then performing to it? How do your attitudes change (or not) concerning that music?
[ February 21, 2002: Message edited by: choreo ]