Alexander Glazunov - String Quartets Vol. 3 (Utrecht String Quartet)

Information

Composer: Alexander Glazunov

• (01) Suite for string quartet in C major, Op. 35
• (06) String Quintet in A major, Op. 39

Utrecht String Quartet

Eeva Koskinen & Katherine Routley, violins

Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir, viola

Sebastian Koloski, cello

&

Michael Stirling, cello (6-9)

Date: 2008

Label: MDG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

It may seem strange but Alexander Glazunov, considered as one of Russia's greatest symphonic composers, had a strong predilection for chamber music, and he is seen as the first Russian composer who took a serious interest in the genre. [Except, of course, for Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Glinka, Rubinstein, and Taneyev whose chamber music pre-dated Glazunov's.]

This is a third volume dedicated to his complete string quartets and is certainly the most interesting issue so far. The Suite Op. 35 was written in 1887 when the composer was just 22, and for the first time in his already successful career, Glazunov deliberately left out the dominance of Slavonic themes without ignoring them completely. The work might have also been intended as a series of miniature studies, but whatever his intention, the suite has a feisty dance element and the music develops spontaneously from the motifs and ideas embellished with brilliant harmonic touches.

The String Quintet of 1892 uses two cellos instead of a viola, a grouping close to Schubert's heart, but Glazunov in no way tries to duplicate the Viennese master's style. Indeed this superbly crafted piece is extremely attractive, displaying compositional virtuosity at the expense of profundity. The opening "Allegro" is lively and charming, a movement which is strongly contrasting to the cheerful pizzicato and elegiac interludes of the Scherzo and Allegro.

The Utrecht Quartet play these pieces with great rhythmic virtuosity, superb ensemble and good rhythmic vision. This release is highly recommended for those who are not yet aware of the attractive qualities of Glazunov's chamber music.

-- Gerald Fenech, Classical Net

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexander Glazunov (10 August 1865 – 21 March 1936) was a Russian composer of the late Russian Romantic period, music teacher and conductor. He served as director of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory between 1905 and 1928 Glazunov was significant in that he successfully reconciled nationalism and cosmopolitanism in Russian music. While he was the direct successor to Balakirev's nationalism, he tended more towards Borodin's epic grandeur while absorbing a number of other influences, including Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestral virtuosity, Tchaikovsky's lyricism and Taneyev's contrapuntal skill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Glazunov

***

The Utrecht String Quartet is one of the most renowned chamber-music ensembles, known internationally for its versatile and dynamic approach. In the Netherlands, the USQ takes part in all the important chamber music series; such as those at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, at Vredenburg in Utrecht and at the Frits Philips Music Centre in Eindhoven. The quartet has also been a regular guest in London since their debut in 2000. The USQ is Quartet in Residence of the Utrecht Conservatory. In addition to its extensive concert programme, the USQ also performs for radio and TV and for CD recordings.

https://www.naxos.com/person/Utrecht_String_Quartet/294879.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!