Tchaikovsky - 1812 overture (main theme) - Classical Music - 03.34 - overture, romantic, orchestra - The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture (Festival Overture The Year 1812), is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of Borodino in 1812. Tchaikovsky's most famous work.