Evgeni Svetlanov – Alto CD

Alexander Glazunov: Symphony 8 / Raymonda Dances / Finnish Fantasy / Mazurka in G

amuletts — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:03:28 +0000

‘Every time I listen to a Glazunov symphony I think, why isn’t this more often performed? The sound is gorgeous and we set out with good symphonic material, so that the ear is captured and one’s mind engaged … Svetlanov and his orchestra do it superbly, and it is extremely well recorded. With ballet music Glazunov is, of course, very much on home ground and the Raymonda dances are delightful.’ (Gramophone)

Symphony No.8 in E flat major, Op.83 [42:03]

[1] Allegro moderato 10:53

[2] Mesto 11:41

[3] Allegro 6:42

[4] Finale: Moderato sostenuto – Allegro moderato 12:46

Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra 1962; Engineers:

S. Pazukhin, M. Kozhukhova

Ballet: La Raymonda, Op.57 (excerpts) [15:37]

[5] Valse (Act 1 Scene 1) 5:22

[6] Adagio (Act 2) 4:01

[7] Danse Espagnole (Act 2) 2:08

[8] Danse Hongroise (Act 3) 4:03

Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Moscow 1961

[9] Mazurka in G, Op.18 7:40

Rec Sept 1961 Moscow; Engineer S. Pazukhin

[10] Finnish Fantasy, Op.88 12:18

Rec Sept 1962 Moscow; Engineer Alexander Grosman

(9.10) USSR TV & Radio Grand Symphony Orchestra

Scriabin Symphony no.1/Poem of Ecstasy

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“This ‘poème de l’extase is something else altogether. …this develops into a thrillingly intense, even intimidating experience. Subtle refinement is scarcely on the agenda, yet the sheer theatrical fervour of this account is hard to resist, and those malignant sneers from muted USSR SO trombones at 8:27 onwards have to heard to be believed (was this particular passage ever more evil-sounding than here?). What a pity the applause was edited out—I was on my feet long before the end!” © Gramophone

Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 26 [48:54]
[1] I. Lento 7:56
[2] II. Allegro dramatico 8:16
[3] III. Lento 9:38
[4] IV. Vivace 3:20
[5] V. Allegro 6:59
[6] VI. Andante 12:43
Poem of Extasy, Op. 54
[7] Poem of Ecstasy / Le Poème d’extase 22:08

BALAKIREV Symphony 1; Symphonic Poems: Tamara, Russia

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:20 +0000

“These performances have passion and urgency … a natural feeling for idiomatic phrasing and rhythm … rarely if ever on disc has there been such a radiant account on disc of the lovely slow movement” (Penguin Guide) “….his masterpiece Tamara: this is a very good Tamara and every bit as colourful and mysterious” (Gramophone)

Symphony No.1 in C major
[1] Largo – Allegro vivo 11:42
[2] Scherzo: Vivo 6:53
[3] Andante 13:00
[4] Finale: Allegro moderato 8:32
Symphonic Poems:
[5] Russia 13:38
[6] Tamara 21:06

Borodin & Kalinnikov: 1st Symphonies

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:43:19 +0000

“Svetlanov’s performance is a welcome replacement of a charming and most accomplished work by a talented composer who died tragically young … Svetlanov gives a splendidly energetic yet sensitive performance, and he is rewarded with beautiful lyrical playing in the Andante but also in the graceful, fresh lines of the opening movement. It is a work that should be better known in this country: a Prom audience, for instance, would surely take to it with delight.” (Gramophone) “Kalinnikov had a real gift for the tenderly lilting as Andante commodamente goes to prove, especially with the Steppe-longing aspirations of the finale – if you like Borodin then it is a dead cert that this lovely symphony – will appeal.” (MusicWeb)

Vasily Kalinnikov (1866-1901) Symphony No. 1 in G minor

1. Allegro moderato 14:04
2. Andante commodamente 7:28
3. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo 7:38
4. Finale. Allegro moderato 7:57

Alexander Borodin (1833-87) Symphony No. 1 in E flat major

5. Adagio Allegro – 13:25
6. Scherzo. Prestissimo – 6:41
7. Andante – 8:20
8. Finale. Allegro molto vivo – 6:41

GLINKA Overtures & Dances

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“An eminently recommendable survey of Glinka’s orchestral output … playing of the USSR Symphony is expert and idiomatic” (Penguin Guide) “firm and lively as one would expect from Svetlanov and a Russian orchestra very much on home ground. The recordings do full justice to Glinka’s beautiful scoring. An enjoyable record, not to by missed by lovers of Russian music”. (Gramophone) “all done with tremendous character and verve: the Waltz-Fantasie, written for one of the many young ladies who turned the composer’s head , is unfurled with just the right amount of insouciance and lashings of charm.” (MusicWeb International)

Ruslan & Lyudmila

[1] Overture (Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra) 5:05
[2] Chernomor’s March 4:20

Ivan Susanin (A Life for the Tsar)

[3] Overture 9:24

Spanish Overtures

[4] No.1 (Jota Aragonese) 9:08
[5] No.2 (Summer Night in Madrid) 9:01

(Fantasia on Spanish Themes)

[6] Waltz-Fantasia 8:44

Prince Kholmsky: Incidental music to N.Kukolnik’s tragedy

[7] Overture 6:43
[8] Entr’Acte to Act II 3:34
[9] Entr’Acte to Act III 3:28
[10] Entr’Acte to Act IV 3:41
[11] Entr’Acte to Act V 3:33
[12] Premiere Polka in B flat major 8:25

(Orchestrated M.Balakirev)