The two hundred and fourth classical recording: #406 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - The Seasons
With The Seasons, I felt I had to adjust my expectations a bit. Rather than this representing the twelve months of the year, with an emotional arc of sorts, the twelve pieces are more written to be one per month that don't necessarily reflect the seasons as you'd normally experience it - spring is a lot more melancholic, for example, and the work never gets as abundant as you otherwise might expect. As twelve pieces with some different inspirations, it works through that melancholic link that doesn't really fade away as much until August or September's piece. The title of 'The Hunt' is probably the greater indication of that month's tone.