Alexander Glazunov
(1865-1936)
Five Novelettes, Op. 15 (1886)
String Quintet in A Major, Op. 39 (1891-2)
Nathaniel Rosen, cello
Fine Arts Quartet
Naxos 8.570256 63:28
Glazunov has been quite well served on CD with his Violin Concerto and his symphonies being frequently recorded. He also wrote a lot of chamber music, of which the two examples on this disc are relatively rare. The novelette as a musical form was invented by Schumann and it seems the word can mean whatever you want it to mean. In Glazunov's case, the novelette is a miniature with considerable charm and without pretensions to be deep and meaningful. The quintet, his only work in this form, is a more serious affair including one of his trademark sparkling scherzos.
