01. - 04. Alexander Glazunov - The Seasons, op.67 [35'50]
05. Alexander Glazunov - Concert Waltz No.1 in D major, op.47 [8'12]
06. Alexander Glazunov - Concert Waltz No.2 in F major, op.51 [8'21]
07. - 26. Robert Schumann (arr. Glazunov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Liadov, Tcherapnin) - Carnaval, op.9 [26'43]
Disc Two:
01. Alexander Glazunov - Stenka Razin. Symphonic Poem, op.13 [14'48]
02. Mikhail Glinka - Overture. Ruslan and Ludmilla [5'28]
03. Mikhail Glinka - Kamarinskaya Fantasy [6'46]
04. Mikhail Glinka - Overture. A Life for the Tsar [9'12]
05. Mikhail Glinka - Valse-Fantasie [8'23]
06. Mikhail Glinka - Jota aragonesa [9'23]
07. Anatoly Liadov - Baba-Yaga, op.56 [2'59]
08. Anatoly Liadov - Kikimora, op.63 [6'15]
09. - 16. Anatoly Liadov - Chants Populairs Russes, op.58 [12'52]
L'Orchestra de la Suisse Romande conducted by Ernest Ansermet
Decca Eloquence Australia 480 0038 (recorded June 1954 - Stenka Razin and Liadov, November 1959 - Carnaval, February 1961 - Kamarinskaya and Life for the Tsar, April 1964 - rest of the Glinka, May 1966 - The Seasons, June and October 1966 - Concert Waltzes; CD issued 2008)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: Victoria Hall, Geneva
Recording engineers: James Lock, Roy Wallace, Gil Went
Producers: John Mordler, James Walker, Michael Williamson, Michael Bremner
Another twofer in Universal Australia's wrapping up of early and lesser known Ansermet recordings. The 1954 Stenka Razin and Liadov collections are among Decca's earliest stereo recordings. They are not as thin and shrill as many of Decca's mono recordings from the early '50s but the change to the excellent sound of the Glinka pieces is quite startling after Stenka Razin and his Volga Boatmen. The sound in the Liadov is much better and these recordings of the Russian Popular Songs are receiving their first release on CD.
Ernest Ansermet was, of course, famous for his interpretations of Russian repertoire and these are all characteristically fine performances. This The Seasons ballet remains one of the finest recordings of the work. The arrangement of Schumann's Carnaval as a ballet by Glazunov and his cohorts is something of an acquired taste (and not one that I have acquired).