Alexander Glazunov Raymonda, Op. 57 Videos
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Alexander Glazunov José Serebrier Rachmaninoff Rimsky Korsakov Felix Blumenfeld Tchaikovsky Severe Serov Royal Scottish National Orchestra 1896 1897 1910
Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by José Serebrier. I - Adagio - Poco più mosso - Tempo I - Allegro passionato - Più tranquillo - Tempo I - Più tranquillo - Tempo I - Poco più mosso: 0:00 II - Tema con variazioni: Tema. Andante - Variation I. Più mosso. Allegro moderato - Variation II. Allegretto - Più tranquillo - Allegro - Variation III. "Scherzino". Allegro - Variation IV. "Fugato". Andante mistico - Variation V. "Notturno" - Variation VI. Allegro moderato - Variation VII "Finale". Moderato maestoso - Poco più mosso - Più tranquillo: 10:09 III - Intermezzo. Allegretto - Più mosso - Tempo I: 21:03 IV - Finale. Andante maestoso - Moderato - Moderato maestoso - Scherzando - Allegro pesante - Allegro moderato - Moderato maestoso - Più mosso: 25:54 Glazunov's Symphony No.6 was composed in 1896, being premiered in March 28 of 1897 conducted by Glazunov himself. This concert passed to history because the first symphony of Rachmaninoff was premiered as well, it being so poorly received that it begun and three-year depression in which the composed next to nothing. It seems a lack of rehearsal time and (according to some) Glazunov's drunkness produced a botched performance of the piece. Rimsky-Korsakov, in his "Chronicle of My Musical Life", asserted: "Glazunov, who had overcome the whirlpools of the "Sea", the thicket of the "Forest", the walls of the "Kremlin" and the faults of the other compositions from his period of transition, now experienced (as the composer of the ballet Raymonda and of the Sixth Symphony) the full unfolding of his overwhelming talent. The over-rich palette of his imagination and his astonishing command of all technical matters showed his development to have attained its zenith." The Sixth Symphony is dedicated to the pianist, conductor, composer and teacher Felix Blumenfeld. Like Glazunov, he had studied composition under Rimsky-Korsakov. The first movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a slow and solemn introduction, which culminates in an intense and fateful climax. The allegro begins with a passionate rhythmic main theme, presented by the strings and derived from the introduction material. It is contrasted by a lyrical second theme of great voluptuosity. The development is very dramatic and urgent, showcasing Glazunov's masterful use of counterpoint. Several grandiloquent climaxes are reached, showing the influence of Tchaikovsky. The recapitulation brings back the main themes, before a very dramatic coda ends the movement. The second movement consist of a theme and seven variations. It opens with a lyrical, folkish main theme presented by the strings. The first variation is gentle and delicate, featuring the woodwinds. The third variation is a brief and joyous scherzo, with flutes and strings in pizzicato. The fourth variation is a meditative fugato, with several entries from the strings, it quickly leads to the next one. The fifth variation is a deeply calm and lyrical nocturne. The sixth variation is agitated and Russian in flavour, with the prominence of woodwinds again. The seventh and final variation opens with severe phrases of the brass, contrasted by energic and nervous tuttis. The music culminates in a great climax, before a peaceful coda ends the movement. The third movement, instead of a scherzo, is a brief intermezzo in ternary form. It begins with a graceful and elegant dance theme, coming out almost like from one of Glazunov's ballets. The middle section opens with a contrasting lyrical theme introduced by the flute, and taken by the woodwinds. I unfolds in a very folkloric but light manner. The main theme is then recapitulated. A joyful coda ends the movement. The fourth movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a solemn and imposing introduction, full of an heroic spirit. The allegro begins with a triumphal main theme that, as with the first movement, is derived from the opening material. A playful and light second theme offers the adequate contrast. A development section works like a set of variations, in which both themes are subjected to various metamorphoses, modulations and other procedures. A brief pastoral episode leads us to the brilliant recapitulation of the themes. The coda begins with a brief fugato, ending the whole work with a massive climax. Picture: "The Rape of Europa" (1910) by the Russian painter Valentin Serov. Musical analysis partially written by myself. Sources: (http•••) and (http•••)
Alexander Glazunov Tadaaki Otaka Otaka Nikolay Rimsky Korsakov Anton Rubinstein Rubinstein Bbc National Orchestra Wales 1527 1881 1893 1894
BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Tadaaki Otaka. I - Andante - Allegro moderato - Poco più tranquillo - Tempo I - Più mosso - Tempo I - Più mosso - Tranquillo - Allegro ed agitato - Più tranquillo - Più agitato - Passionato - Tempo I - Poco più tranquillo - Tempo rubato (animato e passionato) - Andante - Allegro moderato: 0:00 II - Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Poco meno mosso. Tranquillo - Tempo I: 15:27 III - Andante - Più mosso. Allegro moderato - Allegro - Meno mosso e tranquillo - Tempo I - Più sostenuto - Tranquillo - Tempo I - Più mosso - Presto: 21:10 Glazunov's Symphony No.4 was finished in 1893, being premiered in January 22 of 1894, performed by the RMS Orchestra conducted by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov. The work was (rather curiously) dedicated to Anton Rubinstein, founder and director of the St Petersburg conservatory and a pioneer Russian composer, who would die in November 20 of that year. Rubinstein was one of the first to recognize the talent of the young composer: After the premiere of Glazunov's String Quartet No.1 +••.••(...)), he calledthe schoolboy onto the podium to acknowledge the audience's applause. On a personal level, however, these two artists had relatively little contact: even though Glazunov's parental home was a meeting point for various Russian musicians of the time, Rubinstein was not among them. Following the third symphony, which many found "too western", with the fourth Glazunov strikes a balance between the east and west. The first movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a slow and substantial intoduction, almost like a small slow movement in itself. The English horn presents a lyrical but melancholic theme of Russian flavour, almost like a wordless song. The upper string take it expressively, turning the music rom darkness to a hopeful bright. The allegro begins with a gentle main theme of pastoral nature. A second theme is also presented almost like a waltz, derived from the opening theme. Follows an agitated development section, which transforms these materials fascinatingly. As fragments of the theme are passed from the woodwind to the strings, we often hear passages that anticipate pages of the future ballet "Raymonda". The recapitulation brings back the main themes. A bright coda, based on the main theme, leads us to a gentle coda. The second movement is a scherzo in ternary form. It opens with a playful main theme in form of a rustic dance, presented by the woodwinds. The trio begins with a lyrical and graceful waltz, offering the adequate contrast and reminding us again to the ballet world. The scherzo is then resumed, leading us to a calm coda that ends the movement. The third movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a contemplative introduction that, again, doubles as a small slow movement. A lyrical theme of great beauty is presented, before a blazing of fanfares leads us to the allegro. A vigorous and rhythmic main theme is presented by the whole orchestra, followed by a deeply lyrical second theme of nocturnal character. A forceful and dynamic development section ensues, with references to materials from the previous movement, thus giving the whole work a cyclical structure. The music reaches a grandiose climax, after a calm passage which refernces the opening's melancholic theme. A portentous and massive coda brings the work to a satisfactory end. Picture: "Winter Dusk" by the American painter Robert Girrard (Thomas Kinkade). Musical analysis partially written by myself. Sources: (http•••) and (http•••)
Alexander Glazunov Butt Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1987 1990
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Glazunov: Raymonda, Op. 57a - Suite / Act 1 - Prelude et la romanesca (Moderato) · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra · Yondani Butt Glazunov: Symphony No. 6; Raymonda; Triumphal March ℗ 1990 ASV Ltd. Released on: 1987-01-01 Studio Personnel, Recording Engineer: Brian B. Culverhouse Composer: Alexander Glazunov Auto-generated by YouTube.
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