Glazunov's glass of vodka

Roasted Swan · August 20, 2025, 04:56:06 AM

Quote from: kyjo on August 19, 2025, 06:29:59 AMA few days ago I listened for the first time to the least-known of Glazunov's three ballets, Les Ruses d'Amour (1900):

This one-act ballet is 55 minutes of sheer glittering delight! I would say it's almost as inspired as The Seasons, and generally more inspired than the lengthy Raymonda. Of particular note is the Grand pas des fiances with its beautiful, substantial solos for violin and cello. Discovering this work confirmed my opinion that a lot of Glazunov's finest work is contained in his ballets and other "free-form" works, where he doesn't feel constrained by elements like sonata form and counterpoint as he sometimes is in his symphonies, string quartets, etc. And the performance by the Romanian State Orchestra under Horia Andreescu completely exceeded my expectations - it's full of verve, color, and technical security. Which is fortunate since it's one of the few recordings of this work available! Thank goodness Naxos didn't use the Moscow SO under Igor Golovschin for this recording like they did in most of their other Glazunov releases. Any Glazunov fan needs to hear this delicious ballet which I've overlooked for too long!

Excellent shout for this work and the movement you highlight is glorious. Don't know this Naxos version but the Svetlanov performance is suitably ardent!

kyjo · August 22, 2025, 05:46:35 AM

Quote from: Symphonic Addict on August 19, 2025, 08:47:11 AMLike you, I wasn't taken by Raymonda as much as I would have liked. I haven't given Les Ruses d'Amour a listen yet, so it looks like it could be more promising.

The last Glazunov piece I heard was The King of the Jews from this recording:

Glazunov in religious mode and I must say he rather succeeded at it. There are several good moments, some of them imposing and of exotic nature, other more meditative. Not sure if it's top-drawer Glazunov, but it was worth my time.

Interesting, Cesar. I haven't heard The King of the Jews - must check it out!

kyjo · August 22, 2025, 05:49:38 AM

Quote from: Roasted Swan on August 19, 2025, 09:08:53 AMI don't know the Naxos/Romanian SO version but the old Svetlanov/USSR SO is old school idiomatic which I love.....

I have no doubt that it is! Soviet-style brass playing isn't really to my taste, though, and Svetlanov certainly had no inhibitions about "letting them rip"!

Do give the Andreescu performance on Naxos a try - it completely exceeded my expectations.

kyjo · August 22, 2025, 05:51:39 AM

Quote from: Brian on August 19, 2025, 12:53:34 PMListening now and it is wonderful! Everything you say here is true. First ever hearing but this is a total delight and one I'll return to. Thank you so much!

You're welcome, Brian! I'm already looking forward to returning to this endearingly delightful ballet as well. I wonder if Andrei knows this work? It's right up his alley!