Alexander Glazunov
Alexander Glazunov (1865–1936) was a Russian composer, teacher and conductor of the late Romantic period. His lyrical cello writing is best known through short character pieces such as the Chant du ménestrel and the Elégie.
Born in Saint Petersburg, he emerged as a prodigy under Rimsky-Korsakov’s guidance and became a leading figure of the Belyayev circle, reconciling Russian nationalist colour with a broader European lyricism. He later directed the Saint Petersburg Conservatory through years of upheaval, leaving a body of orchestral, chamber and instrumental music long valued for melodic warmth and craft.
Among the shorter cello works, the songful Minstrel’s Song, Op. 71, and the sombre Elégie in G minor, Op. 44, remain staples of the romantic duo repertoire and appear on Australian programmes devoted to Russian and broader lyrical cello music.
Compositions by Alexander Glazunov appear on
Evocations: The Poet
David Pereira (cello) and David Bollard (piano) offer an unusual selection from the romantic cello repertoire, with short lyrical works by Fauré, Delius, Kodály, Dvořák and others.