The Seasons was commissioned by Nikolay Bernard, editor of the periodical Nouvelliste. Each monthly issue was to contain an appropriate piece by Tchaikovsky. The resulting collection has much charm, as it takes the listener through the year, from the fireside in January, through Carnival, the song of the lark, April snowdrops and the nights of May, to the Barcarolle of June, the cutter of the hay, harvest, hunting, October autumn, the November Troïka and to Christmas. This present collection of arrangements for violin and orchestra of piano pieces by Tchaikovsky has been skilfully devised and orchestrated by the composer, pianist and conductor Peter Breiner.