Search - Reinhold Gliere, Edward Downes, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra :: Reinhold Gliere: Symphony No. 2/Zaporozhy Cossacks

The victim of its successor

I. J. J. Nieuwland | Amsterdam | 04/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly this symphony sounds rather conventional when compared to the wide sweeps of Glière's third symphony, 'Ilya Muromets'. However, it stands miles above the average, somewhat tired, Russian symphony of the late nineteenth century. Also, its place in the shadow of its successor is not entirely justified. While that one is far more unusual in its general approach, it also tends to spread its thematic material rather thinly, whereas this second symphony is full of fresh, well-carried-through ideas. It is generally (to me at least) more fun to listen to, also because it lacks the pretentiousness of the third. The 'filler' is a piece based on Repin's picture of the Cossacks writing an insulting letter to the tsar. It is a neoromantic piece in the mould of so much unremarkable Soviet music - recognizable as Glière maybe, but Glière well past his peak (his only worthwile Soviet piece that I know must be 'The Bronze Horseman'). Buy it for the second symphony, which is played excellently by the Downes' BBC Philharmonic - like everything in his Glière series, actually."

Russian Romantic Legacy

Shuji Ogino | Boston, MA USA | 06/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Compared to his famous and gigantic 3rd Symphony (Ilya Murometz), Gliere's 2nd symphony is not well known. However, this symphony already reveals his mature style of late romanticism although the scale is considerably smaller than his 3rd. If you like his long, sweeping 3rd symphony (especially I like Harold Farberman's recording), I am sure you also like this compact 2nd symphony. Sir Edward Downes and BBC Philharmonic played enthusiastically."