Glazunov: Stenka Razin Op13; Symphony No3

1. Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 33
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Yondani Butt

2. Stenka Razin, symphonic poem in B minor, Op. 13
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Yondani Butt

3. Serenade for orchestra No. 1 in A major, Op. 7 No 1 in A major
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Yondani Butt

4. Serenade for orchestra No. 2 in F major, Op. 11
Composed by Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Yondani Butt

Tracks:

Sym No.3 in D, Op.33: I. Allegro
Sym No.3 in D, Op.33: II. Vivace
Sym No.3 in D, Op.33: III. Andante
Sym No.3 in D, Op.33: IV. Allegro Moderato
Stenka Razin, Op.13-Symphonic Poem
Ser No.1 in A, Op.7 - RPO/Yondani Butt
Ser No.2 in F, Op.11 - RPO/Yondani Butt

Customer Reviews:

A symphony of warmth & poetry with a semi-passionate playing.......1999-07-27

By the time Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov (1865-1936) wrote his Third Symphony by 1892, his reputation as among the leading composers of Russia & abroad continued to be established. In most ways, the symphony represented the departure to the orientalism of the Russian Five that Glazunov was deeply influenced under: the orientalism which cast the spell on works between 1879 and 1891 such as, for examples, the serenades, his first two symphonies, symphonic Poems "The Sea", "The Forest", The Kremlin", and "Stenka Razin" as well as the Oriental Rhapsody, String Quartets 1,2,&3, Suite for String Quartet as well as Five Pieces & Five Novellettes for String Quartet. Needless to say, Glazunov's early piano works such as the Three Etudes & the Suite "Sacha" were also under the sway of the orientalism so much advogated by Mily Balakirev & his group.

Thus the Third Symphony represent the turning point of Glazunov's musical language & expressionism. The lyricism, always present in all of Glazunov's scores before this work, points more towards Tchaikovsky (the dedicatee of the symphony incidentally). Not surprisingly perhaps, Glazunov had the most difficulties with the Third Symphony (more than any other works he has composed before & after it, including "Raymonda", his first of three ballets of 1897). He started sketching the work by 1892 & struggled immensely with the musical ideas for the next three years (even to the point of his former teacher & lifelong friend Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov giving Glazunov a scolding).

The result is a work of confidence, beauty, charm, a "Doctor Zhivago" like poetry. It has little adventurous writings of the Second Symphony, but the work is appealing nevertheless. Whereas the First movement is poetic & optimistic, the Scherzo movement is especially sparkling while the Andante is peaceful & heart-warming. The finale, though well constructed, is too developmental & recapulative (Glazunov's chief weakness in constructing symphonies). Otherwise, the symphony is attractive and hardly disappointing.

The other works on the disc demonstrates the orientalism & the nationalism of the Russian Five. Whereas the two serenades (essentially miniatures) has the youthful charm & some of the virtuosity, "Stenka Razin" is purely dynamic and nationalistic, with a popular folksong "Song of the Volga Boatman" embetted throughout. It is an ingenius work (and an important one, with its premiere with the Second Symphony @ the 1889 Paris Exhibition). The London Symphony & the Royal Philharmonic Orchetras under Yodani Butt performed with warmth & commitment. They lacked the passion that you will find in Svetlanov's USSR State Symphony Orchestra or Rozhdestvensky's USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra (recorded originally by Melodiya. The general misconception of Glazunov was (and still is) that he wrote music with very little passion and emotionalism. However, Glazunov had passion and it is important that ensembles performed not under the misconception, but under the acknowledgement of a man proud of his motherland, as Glazunov so effectively demonstrated throughout his entire year. Ensembles should try in earnest to share the passion, as did the aforementioned Russian orchestras or the Scottish National Orchestra in Glazunov's shorter orcheatral works (like "Stenka Razin"). I personally will not be tempted to invest in the Naxos series of Glazunov's works: the performances lacked the necessary Russian passion & sonority under conductors with a not a firm hand & refinement. The strings & winds sound thinnish whereas Soviet orchestras sounded full & exciting, full-bodied Russian poetry no one needs apologies for.

For Stenka Razin, try Neemi Jarvi & the Scottish National Orchestra (so far the best recording currently available). For Glazunov's Third Symphony, this recording will have to do, at least until Svetlanov's and/or Rozhdestvensky recordings will be re-issued (which may be a long-shot due to BMG's control over the rights of Melodiya recordings since late 1992). Keep your fingers cross.

Otherwise, recommendable, though not a first choice (for me anyways).

Music Review: