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Glazunov's Finnish Fantasy Posted by Jeffrey Davis on December 16, 2008, 4:27 pm 195.93.21.72 I have just read Rob's enjoyable review of the Naxos Glazunov series. In it Rob mentions that his early liking of the fine Finnish Fantasy (1909) from an old Melodiya LP was not replicated on hearing the Naxos version. Rob wondered what had happened to the old Melodiya recording and I'm wondering if it is the one featured on Disc 2 of Brilliant's new Evgeny Svetlavov boxed set. I greatly enjoyed this very atmospheric recording from 1962. I first discovered the piece when I wrote to the BBC to ask them what was being used as the title music for their old drama serialisation of 'Anna Karenina' (the one with Nicola Paget)from the 1970s. They replied saying that they used sequences of Glazunov's Finnish Fantasy and Tchaikovsky's Manfred. This is the first time I discovered either piece and Rob interestingly mentions the possible influence of 'Manfred' on Glazunov in this work.  Post a Response

Re: Glazunov's Finnish Fantasy Posted by kevin on December 22, 2008, 11:20 pm, in reply to "Glazunov's Finnish Fantasy" 86.14.144.239 I too remember that old Russian recording - rather a glassy sound, but a glittering performance full of fire poetry and vehemence, besides which the tepid Naxos recording sounds like a lukewarm studio run-through: I've been looking out for a re-issue for years. Must say, I balk at buying an entire box set for the one piece (especially as I don't much otherwise rate Glazunov!) but maybe needs must..?  Post a Response

Re: Glazunov's Finnish Fantasy Posted by Jeffrey Davis on December 23, 2008, 11:30 am, in reply to "Re: Glazunov's Finnish Fantasy" 195.93.21.3 Kevin, I see what you mean. I bought the box for the 1950s recording of Miaskovsky's 25th Symphony, which is otherwise unavailable. I am pleased as it is more moving than the alternative versions. However, apart from the great Finnish Fantasy by Glazunov I have made some other very interesting discoveries in the Svetlanov box - not least a very moving piece 'The Krasnodonians' by Arkady Mazaev (1908-87). It is a tone poem which commemorates partisan fighters of World War Two who were executed and thrown down a mine shaft. If you don't want the box set however, Sveltlanov's version of Finnish Fantasy was certainly once available on a single Russian Revelation CD, which still might be possible to pick up.  Post a Response

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