Glazunov: String Quartets No. 3 & No. 5 Vol. 1 | Classical Music CD | Perfect for Home Listening & Music Study

Glazunov's orchestral works can suffer from that all too predictable dilemma: imaginatively scored orchestral expertise but thin thematic inspiration.Not so with his chamber works. The Five Novelettes (reviewed previously) are scintillating, characterful miniatures which make for a very satisfying whole on a great Naxos disc. The present disc - of the 3rd and 5th Quartets - is similarly attractive. In No. 3 (subtitled 'Slavonic') Glazunov's melodic inspiration runs high throughout (with possibly an overlong finale that rather stretches its material), including some particularly ravishing writing in the second movement Interude. The slavic tonality and lilt are beautifully realised and this is foot-tapping, highly accomplished writing for the four players. No. 5 is similarly melodic and fluent.The Shostakovich Quartet have this music in their blood, playing with an ideal combination of passion and tenderness. The recording is similarly top-notch - warm, not overly resonant, fully capturing the intimacy and immediacy of what is joyful music-making.