French composer Edouard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole didn't fit the "norms" of what was called a concerto--it was sprawling, had 5 movements, and explored new forms and rhythms. With its French flair and Spanish flavors. it was certainly not of the Germanic school. Inspired, perhaps liberated, by Lalo, Tchaikovsky let his Russian flag fly and composed his extraordinary Violin Concerto allowing himself to express with all the passion and freedom his artistic soul would allow.

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