Glazunov's precocious First Symphony was enthusiastically received at its St Petersburg premiere and this fervour turned to astonishment when a 16-year-old schoolboy came on to the platform to take his bow. The achievement is especially remarkable when it remains the most impressively spontaneous piece on these two discs. Nos. 5 and 8 are better known, more considerable in their structure and craftsmanship, but not more appealing. Moreover, the composer had a memory like blotting paper and this, no doubt, accounts for their eclecticism.
The warmly cultured playing of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra—helped by the recording, which is smooth and natural, and resonantly ample in texture—gives the later works a Schumannesque flavour. More glitter would have been welcome, although the scherzos (the composer's speciality) emerge brightly enough. This is all amiable music, but even the First Symphony isn't a patch on the similar work by Bizet, or for that matter Tchaikovsky's No. 1. The occasional pieces will, I feel, bear little repetition. My negative response is, I am sure, partly brought about by the smoothly cushioned orchestral sound; a brighter upper range might have brought the scoring more vividly to life. The performances are thoroughly musical but lack something in flair. Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's recent Olympia CDs have far more sparkle and individuality.'