The Tchaikovsky 5th is one great composition, no doubt, though recently it's his unnumbered 'Manfred Symphony' that has reminded me most of the cabal.
Criminal past, summoning evil spirits, black magick, experiencing the tortures of Hell, seeking forgiveness, remembering a distant time when they once felt love… it's all there in the Manfred.
"Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Manfred Symphony Op.58
1.Lento lugubre - Moderato con animo
Manfred wanders in the Alps. Wearied by the fateful questions of life, tormented by the burning anguish of helplessness and by the memory of his criminal past, he feels cruel tortures to the soul. Manfred penetrates deeply into the secrets of magic and communicates imperiously with the mighty powers of hell, but neither these, nor anyone in the world can give him the oblivion which is the single thing he vainly seeks and begs for. A recollection of the lost Astarte, whom he once loved passionately, devours and gnaws at his heart and there is neither limit nor end to the boundless suffering of Manfred."