Glazunov Symphonies Nos 1-3 and 9

An affectionate approach to Glazunov’s early symphonic works

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov

Genre:

Orchestral

Label: Warner Classics

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 137

Mastering:

Stereo
DDD

Catalogue Number: 2564 68904-2

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Symphony No. 3 Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
José Serebrier, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphony No. 9 Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
José Serebrier, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphony No. 2 Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
José Serebrier, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Symphony No. 1, 'Slavyanskaya' Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Composer
José Serebrier, Conductor
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
The three-and-a-bit works collected here are in many ways the weaker brethren in Glazunov’s symphonic oeuvre. His debut as a precocious 16-year-old rather fizzles out after its effervescent first movement; the next two symphonies are structurally bloated in their search for depth of expression; and the single movement of No 9 is a reconstruction of music that would surely have been more fully composed had Glazunov considered it worth the effort.

As elsewhere in the cycle, Serebrier lavishes enthusiasm and affection on all these scores, to particularly striking effect in the Third Symphony, whose slow movement I cannot remember justifying its length so eloquently. The playing is responsive and alert but not always ideally balanced – Glazunov’s scoring needs rather more help than quickly assembled performances can be expected to provide – and the First Symphony suffers in addition from ensemble problems. Recording quality is adequate but cannot wholly disguise these shortcomings. So the main issue for collectors may be whether these two discs plug a gap. If they do, then they serve the purpose quite respectably.

Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music. 

Stream on Presto Music | Buy from Presto Music

Gramophone Print

  • Print Edition

From £6.67 / month

Subscribe

Gramophone Digital Club

  • Digital Edition
  • Digital Archive
  • Reviews Database
  • Full website access

From £8.75 / month

Subscribe

                              

If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.