The 15 minute Overture is best known for its climactic volley of cannon fire, ringing chimes and a brass fanfare finale. The 1812 Overture went on to become one of Tchaikovsky's most popular works, along with his ballet scores to The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. It is one of the few works by Tchaikovsky to be written on Commission, the other being The Nutcracker. Recently, the pieces usage as a patriotic song with tones of war has caused controversy during the Russian invasi...