Glazunov: Complete Piano Music, Vol.1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Glazunov is famous mostly for his violin concerto and a few ballets, but he also wrote eight symphonies, seven string quartets, and a good deal of piano music. His style was firmly grounded in the past, but as professor and later director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he encouraged such innovative students as Prokofiev and Shostakovich, earning their lifelong gratitude, and he generously championed the music of other Russian composers. A respected pianist, Glazunov was too shy for a career as composer-pianist, but if he could play what he composed, he must have been a spectacular virtuoso. The pieces on this record sound extraordinarily difficult, with enough notes per square inch to intimidate all but the most dauntless. The writing is extremely rich and ornate, full of octaves, massive chords, and cascades of runs, and it exploits all the resources of the instrument. Glazunov was obviously influenced by European romanticism rather than Russian nationalism; the spirit of Chopin in particular is never far away. The two Sonatas, written within a month of each other, are both somber, dark, passionate, and moody, well crafted but rather discursive and repetitious. Each has a brilliant Scherzo, almost Mendelssohnian except for the heavy writing; the first has a beautiful slow movement. The Theme and Variations of a year earlier are lovely; lighter in texture and mood, they put a simple, Russian-sounding theme through every imaginable transformation of rhythm, character, expression, and pianistic effect. Two brief Impromptus sound entirely like Chopin. Duane Hulbert's playing is most impressive, technically, stylistically, and communicatively: an admirable achievement and clearly a labor of love. --Edith Eisler

www.ClassicsToday.com
"Gorgeous sound sets the seal on a production that makes the best case for this excellent but sadly neglected repertoire."

Album Description
This album, a 2002 Grammy nominee for Best Solo Instrumental Recording, is a work of love by pianist Duane Hulbert. The music of Alexander Glazunov, a contemporary of Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin is rarely performed today. Hulbert has resurrected it and restored it to prominence with this first work in a series of Glazunov's complete piano music.

In style, Glazunov's own music belongs to the world of late Romanticism. It is closer in spirit to the aristocratic elegance of Tchaikovsky than the more gritty "realism" of Mussorgsky or the self-conscious ethnographic aesthetic of the other members of the "Mighty Handful" (Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev, Cui and Borodin).

Glazunov wrote much less music for the piano than Rachmaninoff, Scriabin or Prokofiev. His output includes two rarely heard piano sonatas and one set of theme and variations. An active pianist since childhood, Glazunov loved to play Bach, Liszt and Chopin. Chopin's influence can be strongly felt in all of his music for the instrument, especially in his mazurkas, nocturnes and waltzes, as well as the strikingly Chopinesque 'Two Impromptus, Op. 54'. Russian composer and critic Boris Asafiev wrote this description of Glazunov's own performing style at the keyboard: "Glazunov's tone was rich, soft and warm, his fingers 'dug into' the keys, so the resonance could be at the same time massive and rumbling and tenderly song-like and soaringly romantic. At the same time, you could feel and intimate Russian simplicity and spaciousness, a freshness of sentiment and a shy lyricism."

Glazunov's friends and colleagues greeted his First Piano Sonata with enormous enthusiasm. Rimsky-Korsakov even admitted to feeling pangs of jealousy after hearing Glazunov play it for an invited audience at his house on Kazanskaya Street. "I must tell you that I left your house with such strong impressions from your Sonata that I couldn't set to work on my own music for several days. This is a superb work both in content and in the virtuoso-like execution of form and technique. You cannot imagine what kind of envy and sadness comes over me when I realize that I am incapable of producing anything similar, and even if I had once been capable, I repressed the impulse, and now it is too late."

Glazunov: Complete Piano Music, Vol.1

Glazunov: Complete Piano Music, Vol.1, Music, Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov, Duane Hulbert, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Impromptu for Keyboard, Keyboard, Romantic Sonata/Sonatina for Keyboard, Variations for Keyboard

Average customer rating: Exquisite A Mesmerizing Performance

Glazunov: Complete Piano Music, Vol.1 Manufacturer: Bridge ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Impromptus | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Variations | Variations | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000050HX1 Release Date: 2000-11-28

Tracks:

1. Two Impromptus, Op.54: Impromptu No.1, D flat
2. Two Impromptus, Op.54: Impromptu No.2, A flat
3. Son No.2 in e, Op.75: I. Moderato
4. Son No.2 in e, Op.75: II. Scherzo: Allegretto
5. Son No.2 in e, Op.75: III. Finale: Allegro Moderato
6. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Theme: Andante
7. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 1, Piu Mosso
8. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 2, L'istesso Tempo
9. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 3, Andante
10. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 4, Poco Piu Sostenuto
11. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 5, Andante Sostenuto
12. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 6, Largo
13. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 7, Allegro
14. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 8, Vivo
15. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 9, Adagio Tranquillo
16. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 10, Allegro Assai
17. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 11, Allegretto
18. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 12, Andante Sostenuto
19. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 13, Allegro
20. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Var 14, Andante Tranquillo
21. Theme And Vars in f#, Op.72: Finale: Var 15, Allegro Moderato
22. Son No.1 in b flat, Op.74: I. Allegro Moderato
23. Son No.1 in b flat, Op.74: II. Andante
24. Son No.1 in b flat, Op.74: III. Allegro Scherzando

Amazon.com

Album Description

In style, Glazunov's own music belongs to the world of late Romanticism. It is closer in spirit to the aristocratic elegance of Tchaikovsky than the more gritty "realism" of Mussorgsky or the self-conscious ethnographic aesthetic of the other members of the "Mighty Handful" (Rimsky-Korsakov, Balakirev, Cui and Borodin).

Glazunov wrote much less music for the piano than Rachmaninoff, Scriabin or Prokofiev. His output includes two rarely heard piano sonatas and one set of theme and variations. An active pianist since childhood, Glazunov loved to play Bach, Liszt and Chopin. Chopin's influence can be strongly felt in all of his music for the instrument, especially in his mazurkas, nocturnes and waltzes, as well as the strikingly Chopinesque 'Two Impromptus, Op. 54'. Russian composer and critic Boris Asafiev wrote this description of Glazunov's own performing style at the keyboard: "Glazunov's tone was rich, soft and warm, his fingers 'dug into' the keys, so the resonance could be at the same time massive and rumbling and tenderly song-like and soaringly romantic. At the same time, you could feel and intimate Russian simplicity and spaciousness, a freshness of sentiment and a shy lyricism."

Glazunov's friends and colleagues greeted his First Piano Sonata with enormous enthusiasm. Rimsky-Korsakov even admitted to feeling pangs of jealousy after hearing Glazunov play it for an invited audience at his house on Kazanskaya Street. "I must tell you that I left your house with such strong impressions from your Sonata that I couldn't set to work on my own music for several days. This is a superb work both in content and in the virtuoso-like execution of form and technique. You cannot imagine what kind of envy and sadness comes over me when I realize that I am incapable of producing anything similar, and even if I had once been capable, I repressed the impulse, and now it is too late."

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite.......2002-02-27

A Mesmerizing Performance.......2000-12-31

Average customer rating:

Pablo Casals: The Complete Acoustic Recordings Vol. 3: 1920 - 25 Manufacturer: Biddulph Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bruch | Bruch, Max | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Cui, César | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Granados, Enrique | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by MacDowell | MacDowell, Edward | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Moore | Moore, Thomas | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rubinstein | Rubinstein, Anton | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Divertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Casals, Pablo | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000001ZFJ Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

1. Kathleen Mavourneen - Pablo Casals
2. Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms - Pablo Casals
3. Gavotte in D (Op.23) - Romano Romani
4. Salut D'amour - Romano Romani
5. Would God I Were The Tender Apple Blossom - Romano Romani
6. Romance in E flat
7. Ser Napoletana
8. To A Wild Rose
9. Oh, Dry Those Tears
10. Kol Nidre - Edouard Gendron
11. Op.20 No.1: Melodie Arabe - Edouard Gendron
12. Con in D: Adagio
13. Op.67 No.6: Ser
14. Sapphische Ode
15. Minuet
16. Melodie
17. Op.37 No.10: Autumn Song
18. Op.20 No.18: Berceuse
19. Adagio - Edouard Gendron
20. Goyescas: Intermezzo - Edouard Gendron

Average customer rating: Well advocated and passionate!

Glazunov: The Complete Solo Piano Music, Vol. 1 Manufacturer: Hyperion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000002ZX0 Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

1. Suite On The Name 'Sascha': Introduction And Prelude
2. Suite On The Name 'Sascha': Scherzo
3. Suite On The Name 'Sascha': Nocturne
4. Suite On The Name 'Sascha': Valse
5. Three Miniatures: Pastorale
6. Three Miniatures: Polka
7. Three Miniatures: Valse
8. Valse de Salon
9. Grande Valse de Concert
10. Waltzes On The Theme 'Sabela'
11. Petite Valse
12. Piano Sonata No. 1 In B Flat Minor: Allegro moderato
13. Piano Sonata No. 1 In B Flat Minor: Andante
14. Piano Sonata No. 1 In B Flat Minor: Finale: Allegro scherzando

Customer Reviews:

Well advocated and passionate!.......2000-02-21

Nevertheless, Stpehen Coombs of Hyperion and Tatjana Franova of Marco Polo has done the composer great justice in bringing his pianofonte works from the coldness of obscurities. Before Franova, the first to engage in this project, only Elena Glazunovna, the composer's adopted daughter and an eminent pianist in her days, performed and recorded a good number of her father's piano scores, such as Idyll in F sharp, Theme and Variations on a Finnish Theme, the two piano sonatas, and the three etudes. Other than Elena Glazunovna, no major or minor Russian and Non-Russian pianists embarked upon performing Glazunov's piano works, with some exceptions to Leslie Howard, whose recording of Glazunov's piano sonatas was a towering achievement in its own right.

Such obscurities were utterly incomprehensible, for Glazunov's piano scores show a remarkably wide range of invention, handling of thematic materials, and distinctions (sometimes bordering towards originality). Take the Suite "Sascha" for instance. As a work of 1883, op. 2, the suite is remarkably confident in form and is self-assuring. The initial bars of the first movement suite has the devilish daringness of the young Glazunov (born in 1865) and the remaining movement never lost sight of its prowness and exuberance. The second movement leans towards Schumann but never lost its' appeal while the third movement (noctune), though somewhat Borodinian, has such the exotic coloring and tunefulness to be found in his later scores from the mid 1880s onwards. Franz Liszt was right to admire the young composer and this suite shows us why.

The rest of Volume 1 contains the highly effective and witty three miniatures, the glittering, appealing waltzes, and the passionate, Tchaikovskian First Piano Sonata. The waltzes are particularly demanding works but rather assessible while the Grand Valse de Concert has somewhat the Chopinesque qualities embetted. The First Sonata (1900) is even more demanding and virtuousic, somewhat rant in some of the passages (like the piano works of Tchaikovsky), but served as among Glazunov's most important achievements and pianists now and then had made the work an occassion of its own.

Stephen Coombs played with upmost advocacy, passion, and with imagination. He really had a great reading of the scores and never ran the risk of being too-exuberant. That will be evident in the next three volumes of Glazunov's piano works (although Coombs was somewhat too light-hearted in the composer Piano Concerti). The Hyperion recording sound is overly spacious and atmospheric, but well done and perfectly acceptable and Coombs program notes were well written and informative. Enterprising recordings such as this should raise Glazunov's status as among Russia's major composers immeasureably.

This First Volume (and the next three) is highly and affectionately recommended (Volume Two is available and contain Glazunov's most effective piano writings).

Track Listings:

1. Gotterdammerung / Knappertsbusch, Varnay, Aldenhoff, Uhde, et al [Box set]
2. Hodie/Fantasia on X-Mas Carols
3. Hovhaness: Holy City Op218; Symphony No17
4. Jacqueline du Pré - The Early BBC Recordings 1961-1965 ~ Bach, Britten, Brahms, Couperin, Falla, Handel / Kovacevich, Lush, Pleeth
5. Kiri Side Tracks: The Jazz Album
6. Korngold: Sinfonietta Op5; Sursum Corda Op13
7. Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants [Box set]
8. Lou Harrison: Suite for Violin
9. Love Divine, Illumine Our Darkness (#2473)
10. Love Songs, Vol. 1

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

The Noise Made by People

Across Time

Ambient 1: Music for Airports

Swing It, Daddy-O!

Collection: Notes from Planet Earth [Import]

All or Nothing [Import]

A Journey to the Heart...Remember When?

Arensky: Violin Concerto; Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1

Access All Areas: Remixed & B-Sides [Import]

11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Maxim Philippov & Antonio Pompa-Baldi

20/20

15 Sencillos Sonideros del Año y Sus Videos

12 Chichicuilotazos con Banda

BBC Radio, Vol. 1: 1968-1969

Tao-Njia