The Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet, composed in the autumn of 1869, was Pyotr Ilych Tschaikowsky's first orchestral masterpiece. He was only twent-nine years old and still much influenced by Mily Balakirev (1837-1910) who had suggested to compose an overture based on Shakespeare's play. Pyotr Ilych Tschaikowsky completed the score in a few months and he described the resulting work as a fantasy overture in wich the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets is contrasted with the more lyrical themes representing the fated lovers.
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