Glazunov Symphonies

[Harry]

I would like to invite some comments on this complete recording.
Does anyone know were they come from, and still better has heard them.
Tempi, sound, etc etc.....

[BachQ]

Tempi, sound, etc etc.....

The tempi are excellent ....... among the best in the business ........

But the sound ......... oh, the sound .........

[The new erato]

Isn't this Chandos material?

[The new erato]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/nov99/Glazsymph34.htm

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=8828

It is easy to google references to other discs in the series on both sites.

[Harry]

Isn't this Chandos material?

Yes I found out it is, and Gramophone writes about with two minds.

[Harry]

Still I would like to hear some opinions of the posters about these recordings.

[Martin Lind]

I am tempted by these CDs:



But Glazunov is relatively new to me. I know his violin concerto with Vengorov ( I recorded it from the radio). Otherwise the composer is completely new to me.

As far as I know he is a relatively conservative composer. The German Reklam Konzertführer gives Glazunov an entry in the "major composer department" and speaks about all the symphonies ( he doesn't speak about Sibelius symphonies 3-7 and all Shostakovich symphonies). This makes me hopefull.

This Brilliant box is certainly very tempting but I would like to know your opinions. About this composer and about these recordings.

Regards Martin

[Harry]

I started yesterday a thread about the same composer, and the same recording.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,4133.0.html

As to the question about do you need Glazunov, that you can only answer yourself.
Wether you like his music or not. Many amongst us think he is a bleak image of Rachmaninoff.
I think he is a very good composer that needs repeated hearings before you find the core of his genius.
So in my view you need Glazunov.
That said, the present recordings are a mixed bunch, both in sound and interpretation.
Being Chandos recordings, made in Russian, they are not up to the usual good standards of this label. And as for the interpretation, well the samples I have heard on the Chandos site, did not make me happy, regarding tempi, phrasing, and the message of the works.
I still regard the complete recording on Orfeo by Neeme Jarvi the best option, and advise you to sample before you buy. This complete set from Chandos is not a good introduction to Glazunov, IMO.

[Martin Lind]

Sorry Harry,

I searched for a thread about Glazunov yesterday, couldn't find any, so I started this thread today. You were obviously a bit quicker. Thank you for your advice and let's continue our discussion in your thread.

Best regards
Martin

[Harry]

Sorry Harry,

I searched for a thread about Glazunov yesterday, couldn't find any, so I started this thread today. You were obviously a bit quicker. Thank you for your advice and let's continue our discussion in your thread.

Best regards
Martin

Well if possible the mods can merge the two topics.......

[Cato]

"Need" + "Glazunov = Probably Not.

Tchaikovsky's prediction that Glazunov had the talent, but "something in him holds him back" turned out to be rather true.

Certainly he lived through "interesting times, " especially when the vicissitudes of the Communist Revolution reduced his weight from 300 pounds to below normal.

Will you hear much of that in his compositions?  Not from my experience: at times the tunes are intriguing enough, which is what has kept him around for so long.  But the depth, the substantial expression of a great composer, is usually lacking.  "Something in him holds him back."

[karlhenning]

I do enjoy revisiting the tone-poem Stenka Razin from time to time.  My own need for Glazunov is a sometime thing, and never intense.  YMMV, of course.

[Larry Rinkel]

No.

[karlhenning]

His mileage is not permitted to vary? 

[bhodges]

Well if possible the mods can merge the two topics.......

Glazunov topics now merged.  0:)  Please continue...

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

Traffic from the on-ramp is yielding most courteously 

[Larry Rinkel]

His mileage is not permitted to vary? 

Of course it is. But the more concise answer is much funnier.

[karlhenning]

Agreed, Larry.

[Brian]

I absolutely adore Glazunov's String Quintet, an incredible tuneful work with great beauty and a charming little dance movement:



The Novelettes, written when Glazunov was 16, are quaint and pretty, with a very dignified third movement and a wonderful waltz, but the Quintet (also a youthful work, but a masterpiece) makes the disc. I have long been afraid to buy a symphony cycle by the composer, since they all seem to have serious drawbacks, and also because I have heard the symphonies themselves are rather uneven. This disc has given me a great impression of Glazunov's style and I don't want it to be ruined. 

Scott has an excellent review here.

[Martin Lind]

All this helps me not realy. First: The price is a very convincing argument. This cycle on Brilliant is realy cheap. Maybe the Järvi is better but it is certainly also much more expensive. And Glazunov is certainly not such a great composer that you definetely need the best thing.

If this cycle from Brilliant is bad, I will not buy it. But if Brilliant is bad, I will very probably buy nothing and miss the complete Glasunov.

Today I listened again to Glasunovs violin concerto. I have the Vengorov which I recorded ( with a minidiscrecorder ) from German radio. Somehow I like this performance and the Glasunov. If the Glasunov symphonies are playing in the same leage and if the Brilliant recordings are not that bad I would like to buy this cheap set. If you mean this set is bad, I will buy nothing. So is this set good enough or is it not good enough and should I wait for another bargain?