Reinhold Gliere: Symphony No. 3 'Ilya Muromets'

Reinhold Gliere (Composer), Edward Downes (Conductor), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Edward Downes
• Composer: Reinhold Gliere
• Audio CD (October 28, 1992)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B000000AOZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,756 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #10 in

  Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( G ) > Gliere, Reinhold

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Glière (1875-1956) was one of the late Russian nationalists, along with Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov, whose music collectively captures the waning years of Romanticism in Russia. Glière's Symphony No. 3, Ilya Muromets, of 1912 takes its thematic cues from Richard Wagner, particularly Wagner's German nationalism in such tales as the Nibelungenlied. Ilya Muromets is a hero of Russia's golden age--similar to Odysseus and Achilles--and the symphony paints the tale of his moody adventures and his lifelong journeying. It is probably Glière's greatest symphony, imbued with the sense of something irretrievably lost because of the rise of Communism. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well focused, highlighting Ilya's strengths, in fine sound, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

Downes is well focused and objective in his conducting. The result is a performance that might lack some of the thrills and spills of (say) Stokowski or Ormandy, but emphasises the work's symphonic strength and minimises any feeling that the work is simply too long. No prospect here of spilling over onto 2 CDs, despite being absolutely uncut, unlike some other versions (notably Stokowski who excises half of the score!). The BBC Philharmonic play splendidly. The recording from BBC's Manchester Studios is aptly spacious and well balanced.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gliere:Symphony no 3 / Downes, BBC Philharmonic, November 22, 1999

By	AA5L (Fort Worth, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

Excellently played. Compared to other recordings that I have heard, it seems very legato, especially the contrabassoon solo in the second movement. I believe that this is the best recording of this wonderful music available.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ranks Among the Best Ever, March 9, 2006

By	Robert Thomas "thomastoons" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This symphony must be counted in the list of the top 10 or so greatest symphonies ever written.
That is elite company, to be sure, but Gliere earns that distinction with this exceptional entry into the canon of symphonic literature.
There is nothing small about this symphony. It is a vast musical landscape, but one that is easy to understand. Gliere employs tight, compact writing stretched out over a lengthy 75 minute musical canvas. It is a descriptive work filled with intoxicating, hypnotic moments.
I could go on forever, but I'll leave it up to you to experience this excellent, well executed performance of one of the most wondrous, magical symphonies ever put to paper.
My highest recommendation.
Enjoy!