[1] Although called a "Spanish Symphony" (see also Sinfonia concertante), it is considered a violin concerto by musicians today.
The Symphonie espagnole is one of Lalo's two most often played works, the other being his Cello Concerto in D minor.
The orchestra consists of a piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, snare drum, triangle, harp, and strings.
In March 1878, Tchaikovsky was staying at Nadezhda von Meck's estate at Clarens, Switzerland, while recovering from the breakdown of his disastrous marriage and his subsequent suicide attempt.
His favourite pupil (and allegedly his lover), the violinist Iosif Kotek, shortly arrived from Berlin with a lot of new music for violin.