Glazunov conducts The Seasons

Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)

The Seasons - Ballet, Op. 67

Winter: Introduction; Four Variations
(Frost, Ice, Hail, Snow)
Spring: Scene
Summer: Waltz of the Cornflowers and
Poppies; Barcarolle;
Variation and Coda
Autumn: Bacchanale; Appearance of
Seasons; Petit Adagio; Scene;
The Bacchantes; Apotheosis

Symphony Orchestra
Alexander Glazunov

(recorded 1929 by Columbia UK)

Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 5

Soviet State Symphony Orchestra
Konstantin Ivanov

(Mezdunarodniya Kniga Nos. DO 1370/1371
recording date uncertain; likely 1950's)

(Pearl, 1981)

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From the notes:

"Glazunov's only recording as conductor ... was made for Columbia in 1929. The recording producer, Joe Batten, recalled the occasion thus in his autobiography: '(The Seasons) was recorded at the old Portman Rooms in Baker Sreet. I shall never forget meeting him, tall, elderly, so ill with gout and rheumatism that I wondered if he could stand the physical strain of three or four hours of intensive recording. But he did, and produced a performance of sheer beauty.'

... when Glazunov was invited in 1931 to conduct a concert at Eastbourne, the local 'Eastbourne Chronicle' had this to say: 'Glazunov electrifies the orchestra, much as Sir Thomas Beecham - certainly it did not want for lack of impetus and his conducting, though dignified like that of Nikisch, is full of vigor and a grace that is infectuous. His qualities are commanding, and through sheer personality he produces mass emotion, not only in the orchestra, but in the audience. The augmented orchestra acquitted itself nobly ... Glazunov had it in complete control."

The notes for this LP comprise an excellent assement of Glazunov's art and historical position.

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LP transfers of above material.
Includes cover, label and notes (English).