In 1880, the Russian composer Piotr Iliats Tchaikovsky was commissioned a

composer in honor of the completion of a new cathedral.

What he wrote became one of the best known, over-the-top, and difficult to produce pieces in

music history.

Despite its popularity almost 150 years ago. and difficult to produce pieces in music history.

Despite its popularity almost 150 years later,

the composer actually thought it was one of his worst works.

Learn more about the 1812 overture,

how it was created, and just how crazy it is to properly perform on this episode of

Everything Everywhere Daily. In 1812 Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte's French army invaded Russia in a disastrous attempt to capture Moscow.

Prior to taking Moscow, the French and the Russians fought at the Battle of Borodino where there may have

been as many as a hundred thousand casualties on both sides. After the Pyrrhic French

victory they entered Moscow only defined that most of the city had been burned to the

ground and there wasn't

enough supplies for them, which forced them into a long agonizing retreat.

Upon their retreat, the Russians are Alexander the First commissioned the

construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow

to be built and honor the victory. Fast forward 68 years later to the year 1880.

The Cathedral was finally nearing completion. In 1881, Russia would be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Zar Alexander II.

And in 1882, there was going to be a huge industrial exhibition in Moscow.

Tchaikovsky was commissioned to compose something that could be used for all these events.

He didn't actually like the cathedral and he wasn't a fan of the czar,

...