No sooner had Tadaaki Otaka’s BIS recording of Glazunov’s Fifth Symphony hit the market than this superior version by José Serebrier appeared. Serebrier’s vibrant and vital rendition lifts Glazunov out of second-rate status and reveals his work to be one of the finer symphonies from 19th century Russia. The conductor’s animated tempos lend the first movement a joyful verve similar to Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony. In the finale, Serebrier’s swift pace highlights the music’s celebratory air and makes Otaka’s performance seem comfortably stodgy by comparison. But its not just speed that makes Serebrier’s performance exciting (as his moving and serene rendition of the beautiful Andante will attest), but the Scottish National Orchestra plays with more enthusiasm than its BBC counterpart, especially the brass, who deliver a beefy sound similar to that of Russian orchestras.
This release is even more enticing due to the inclusion of the whole of Glazunov’s ballet The Seasons. Serebrier turns in another excellent performance, drawing highly colorful playing from the orchestra while ideally capturing the music’s varied moods, from festive to bucolic. Warner Classics’ recording, though fine in the quiet passages, becomes excessively reverberant when the music gets loud–but don’t let this dissuade you from these highly enjoyable, exemplary performances. [12/07/2004]
