Tchaikovsky’s art, often larger than life, contained space for reflection on intimate feelings and subtlecontrasts of mood. The dozen miniatures of his The Seasons collectively chart the changing states of themonths of the year, presented as they unfolded under Russian skies.

Igor Levit opens his BBC Lunchtimerecital with the composer’s numinous Méditation Op. 72 No. 5, one of his final works for piano.