Glazunov: Symphony No. 5; The Seasons
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936) was a prodigy composer, whose first symphony was performed when he was 16. An adherent of the Russian Nationalist school in his youth, he later developed a more conservative, European style. Today he is known chiefly for his violin concerto and a few ballet scores, and for his devoted, successful Directorship of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where Shostakovich was among his students. However, although his music is not arrestingly original, his technical mastery and melodic inventiveness are admirable, manifesting spontaneous talent as well as disciplined training. The two works on this record bear this out. Both have clear formal structures and are remarkable for their brilliant orchestration, which sparkles and glitters with myriad colors. This is especially striking in the one-act ballet, The Seasons, where Glazunov uses instrumental timbres--trilling flutes, mellow horns, stratospheric violins--to depict the changing events of nature: hail, snowflakes, frost, bright sunshine, falling leaves. There is a lilting Barcarolle, several wild Bacchanales, and some lovely flower-waltzes naturally reminiscent of Tchaikovsky. The Symphony, a weightier piece, opens with a slow, stately introduction, a broad theme in unison strings (with strong echoes of Wagner's Rheingold motive), whose elements, varied and developed with great skill and imagination, provide the material for the entire movement. The G minor Scherzo has Mendelssohnian lightness and delicacy, with tinkling flutes and percussion and bouncy, skittering strings; the Trio is a dance, robust but still gracious, with--finally--a Russian flavor. The slow movement, after a harmonically ambiguous start, settles into dark, warm E-flat major with a soaring, ecstatic melody over repeated tonal chords, punctuated by interludes of low brass alternating with high woodwinds. The Finale seems least inspired: a rhythmic, slightly raucous, jubilant dance, it ends with a triumphant crash. The orchestra's excellent performance proves that these two unfamiliar works are well worth closer acquaintance. --Edith Eisler
Glazunov: Symphony No. 5; The Seasons, Music, Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, José Serebrier, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Ballet, Classical, Classical Composers, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Ballet, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic
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Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music
Manufacturer: Compendia ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003QWH Release Date: 1994-06-09 |
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CD set is misnamed.......2007-06-08
Do not Buy.......2007-02-21
Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.......2007-01-30
Seek better versions.......2006-12-09
It Is What It Is.......2006-10-27
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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits
Manufacturer: Utv Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004GOZA Release Date: 2000-02-08 |
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Amazon.com
For those who want the most remembered passages of classical music's best-loved works, here's a package for you. On this bargain priced double-CD, you'll find music from 40 different classical composers; for the most part, the recordings excerpted here are some of the very best. Of course, you only get one Bach sampling (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, played by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) and one Mozart (A Little Night Music conducted by Herbert von Karajan), but this is still a nice collection--perhaps the starting point for a budding collection of classical music. This set's downfall? Unfortunately, though the liner notes discuss the evolution of classical music chronologically, the tracks are programmed in alphabetical order by composer's last name. This makes for some startling transitions! Emil Gilels's reflective performance of the Adagio from Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata is followed by the crashing cymbals and bombast of Carmen's "March of the Toreadors," a recipe for a heart attack if there ever was one. Still, there's something here for everyone and the liner notes even explain what movies this music can be found in. A nice touch. --Jason VerlindeCustomer Reviews:
Waste of money.......2006-01-12
Great Music Compilation.......2005-08-15
If you like classical music don't buy this CD........2005-03-11
A must for anyone wanting the staples of classical music.......2005-02-23
A great compilation.......2005-02-09
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Idiot's Guide to Classical Music
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003FPT Release Date: 1995-02-14 |
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I can name that tune in three notes.......2005-02-19
A Fabulous CD.......2004-10-14
Mega-Sampler! This really does have 99 tracks!.......2002-03-20
If you like burning your own CDs, then this is a great source for intra-track fillers, along the lines of They Might Be Giants' "Apollo 18" album, which has all of those short tracks on the end. The idea is to put your CD player on shuffle, so the short tracks get mixed in with the bona fide songs. The result being a very unusual album.
The booklet gives an explanation of the track, where you heard it (i.e. the Warner Brother's Cartoons, or on famous films), and where you can get the full piece of music. So it's a mega sampler CD.
I can honestly say that this CD is a great gift for the friend who has everything.
Fun Sampler.......2001-11-09
Useful........1999-03-22
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Mad about The Classics
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001GKR Release Date: 1993-08-10 |
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Love It!.......2005-08-11
Best of the Best.......2005-05-11
GREAT compilation!!!.......1999-07-27
Very well organized.......1999-06-25
The greatest parts from all your favorites.......1998-10-18
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Classical Jukebox
Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000003FVM Release Date: 1995-02-14 |
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I loved this cd very much!!.......1999-06-09
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Sunday With the Times
Manufacturer: Intersound Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD |