The 22 STRINGS sextet was formed from members of the 2022–2023 Southbank Sinfonia Fellowship, which is the reason for the ensemble's name—the year it arose. Bringing together musicians from six different countries, this international ensemble made their debut at the Lunchtime Concert Series in St John's Smith Square in April 2023.

"Souvenir de Florence" was a work that occupied Tchaikowsky for several years. He made the first sketches in 1887, but revisions dated up to 1892. The main work was accomplished in 1890, upon his return from Florence.

The sextet form was new to Tchaikovsky. In his letters, he expressed worries regarding writing such work: "I began it three days ago and am writing with difficulty, not for want of new ideas but because of the novelty of the form. One requires six independent yet homogeneous voices. This is unimaginably difficult." After finishing the piece, Tchaikovsky was anxious to hear his own work written in the new style; at the same time, he expressed excitement over the composition for such an ensemble. In his letters, he says: "After all, this is my first attempt to break free from the quartet. The sextet is such a wonderful grouping! How convenient this turned out to be, so rich in resources!"

It is a very exciting opportunity to perform the work, which proved to be an outstanding achievement in the music world.