Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXTREORDINARY PERFORMANCES, 5 Oct 2004
By A Customer
Extraordinary performances, brilliantly recorded by the Warner Classics team that gave us so many memorable Erato discs. The
sound they get from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is
of demonstration quality. Everything is clear and in focus, no easy accomplishment in this thickly orchestrated music. The
quality of the sound is similar to other Serebrier recordings:
the strings have a special shine no other counductor seems able
to obtain (except the old Stokowski masterpieces). Serebrier,
the liner notes tell us, was Leopold Stokowski's associate conductor from a very early age. The old wizard's influence
is palpable at every turn: the special quality of the string
sound, the warmth of the woodwind solos, the perfect balance between all the orchestral forces, and most of all the great intensity of the performance. The 5th Symphony of Glazunov is revealed here as a neglected masterpiece that deserves a place in the symphonic repertoire. It has everything. The famous ballet music "The Seasons" has long had a place in the fringes of the repertoire, but this magnificent recording will surely bring it to the forefront. Let us hope that Warner Classics makes this the first release in a series of Glazunov recordings with the same great artists.
Sarah
London, England
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
MAGNIFICENT NEW GLAZUNOV RECORDING, 1 Oct 2004
I was never attracted to the music of this still rather neglected Russian master. The bits and pieces one hears
sounded like watered-down Tchaikovsky. I was not aware
of the great impact this music could make under the
right hands. What a wonderful surprise! The magnificent
performances that conductor Jose Serebrier emanates
from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra are a
revelation. The music suddenly comes alive, from the
first note. The 5th symphony by Glazunov, in this performance, is
revealed as a great neglected masterpice, which should
have its place among the concert favorites of works by
Dvorak and Tchaikovsky. This music has everything: drama,
beautiful melodies, originality. The famous ballet music for The Seasons is a complete joy.
Jose Serebrier lets the music flow and breathe, and the
orchestra comes across as one of the very best European
ensembles. I have the previous version of this work,
recorded years ago by the same orchestra on Chandos, with
Neeme Jarvi, and it doesn't sound at all like the same
orchestra. The old recording is serviceable at best, but
uninspired. Serebrier's new version reveals the great
beauty of the music and it is performed to perfection.
I highly recommend this recording, one of the best releases of the year.
R.A.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST GLAZUNOV RECORDING EVER, 1 Oct 2004
By A Customer
What joy to hear The Seasons ballet music played with such love and enthusiasm. The music jumps out of the speakers. This is not only a most inspired performance, technically it is superior recording in every sense. The recorded sound is among the best I have heard in any digital recording.
The Fifth Symphony is equally successful. A marvelous experience. Highly recommended.
Ralph Brown
London, England
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~ Alexander Glazunov
~ Alexander Glazunov
~ Jose Serebrier
~ Alexander Glazunov
