A Shorter Tchaikovsky

Although I am delighted that Martin Bernheimer saw fit to give Yuri Temirkanov’s Tchaikovsky program of Oct. 16 a rave review (“Temirkanov Revitalizes Tchaikovsky,” Oct. 18), something important, even shocking, was overlooked. Tchaikovsky’s Third Suite, Opus 55, was mutilated; i.e., truncated by a quarter. Nonsensical, harmful cuts came in the second and fourth movements.

Particularly glaring was the omission of two entire variations in the last movement, the whole trio section of the “violin” variation and a third of the final “Polacca” variation. Piotr Ilyich is not amused! I’m curious why the superb St. Petersburgers chose to do such violence to their arguably greatest master!

PATRICK H. LINDLEY

South Pasadena