Symphony No. 2

One might be forgiven for saying of Reinhold Glière's artistic career that he built up to "Ilya Mourometz" and then built down from it. Yet in auditing the two symphonies that come before the colossal Third, it is hard not be aware of the way that they forecast the later work. In them, Gliere appears to be searching for his protagonist. The First Symphony (1900)is thus already one stage on the way to "Ilya Mourometz" and the Second (1908) is a considerable stage farther along. Right away, in the opening bars of the First Movement, Glière puts us in the misty land of Russian lore; the harmonies are more exotic than those in the earlier symphony. The Second Movement (Allegro Giocoso) points toward the "Vladimir Fair-Sun" movement of "Ilya Mourometz." The Third Movement (Andante con Variazioni) strikes me as more domestic in mood, although it, too, points toward "Ilya Mourometz," where the transformation of themes on a Wagnerian scale will constitute the order of business. The Finale (Allegro Vivace) returns us to the serious mood of the First Movement: We are again in a land of swirling mists and demonic forces. There is a wild dance, a kind of Slavic Bacchanalia. Keith Clark leads the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in a performance recorded in 1987, and which previously circulated, at full price, on a Marco Polo CD. The makeweight, "The Zaporozhye Cossacks" (1921) is part of Glière's long building-down after his great achievement of 1911, but merits attention and pays a dividend. At the Naxos price, fans of "Ilya" will not want to pass this up.

This is my favourite symphony by Gliere. It isn't as long or bombastic as Symphony No. 3 and it's more accessible. Indeed Symphony No. 2 has grown on me as I particularly enjoy listening to the first movement which proceeds rather energetically.

"The Zaporozhye Cossacks" is a decent piece but a few of its melodies are repeated a few too many times for my liking. In a way, it reminds me of the symphonic poems by Liszt, but "The Zaporozhye Cossacks" seems a little less polished than them.

Keith Clark and the Slovak orchestra give a good account of themselves in my view, and I'm not complaining about their abilities.

Naxos' price is a bargain, and it's hard to pass up this CD in spite of what I feel are a few flaws in "The Zaporozhye Cossacks".

I enjoyed every moment of this CD. Gliere's Second Symphony is in 4 movements. Each movement, for the most part, consists of variations and developments of themes, based upon Russian music and/or music of former Soviet republics. Each movement is a joy to listen to. In fact, the majestic First Movement, to borrow a phrase, "is worth the price of admission alone". There is brilliant orchestration throughout the Symphony. The Zaporozhy Cossacks is also, basically variations and developments of themes; Cossack in this case. If you get absorbed into the music, you will imagine that you are riding along with the Cossacks. I can't recommend this recording enough.