Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the current classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the 1812 Overture, his First Piano Concerto, Violin Concerto, the Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy, several symphonies, and the opera Eugene Onegin.

Although musically precocious, Tchaikovsky was educated for a career as a civil servant as there was little opportunity for a musical career in Russia at the time and no system of public music education. When an opportunity for such an education arose, he entered the nascent Saint Petersburg Conservatory, from which he graduated in 1865. The formal Western-oriented teaching that Tchaikovsky received there set him apart from composers of the contemporary nationalist movement embodied by the Russian composers of The Five with whom his professional relationship was mixed.

Tchaikovsky composed "Swan Lake" (Op. 20) in 1875–76. Despite its initial failure, it is now one of the most popular of all ballets. The scenario, initially in two acts, was fashioned from Russian and German folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger (Václav Reisinger). The ballet was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet on 4 March, 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Although it is presented in many different versions, most ballet companies base their stagings both choreographically and musically on the 1895 revival of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, first staged for the Imperial Ballet on 15 January 1895, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. For this revival, Tchaikovsky's score was revised by the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatre's chief conductor and composer Riccardo Drigo.

The Moderato is a movement from Act II, Scene 10 and is a majestic piece that symbolizes the beauty of the swans and the women, and is a recurring motif that signals Odette's appearance. The piece conveys a sense of duality and inner conflict as it alternates between contrasting themes. On one hand, it portrays a conversation, a dance, and even a battle between two dualities: the good, light, soft, gentle, understanding, kind, innocent, and feminine side of Odette versus the dark, sinister, angry, cold, evil, and unfeeling side fighting for power.

Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Lake)

Although originally scored for Full Orchestra, I created this arrangement of the Moderato (Op. 20 Act 2 No. 10) for Concert Pedal Harp & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).