Glazunov: Symphonies 4 & 5

Alexander Glazunov (Composer), Valery Polyansky (Conductor), Russian State Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Russian State Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Valery Polyansky
• Composer: Alexander Glazunov
• Audio CD (July 20, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00000JIO4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The current catalogue has not done well by the symphonies of Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936), one of the great Russian romantic composers (and one of the great Russian teachers as well--Shostakovich was a pupil). In many ways, Glazunov's symphonies evoke comparison to Dvorák's: filled with haunting suggestions of folk melodies and sweeping lyricism. One could wish for better performances on this disc, however, especially of the Fifth Symphony (1895), Glazunov's greatest. It's hard to say who's at fault here, but Valeri Polyansky must take the blame for an overlong opening movement that sags in all the wrong places and the awkward, under-rehearsed ending. The Fourth (of 1893) fares much better, making excellent use of the Russian State SO's limited abilities. --Paul Cook