Orchestral Works 18 (Masquerade);

Glazunov's beautifully scored incidental music for Lermontov's play Masquerade has only
survived in manuscript. With characteristic genius, he illustrates both the glittering atmosphere
and dances of splendid St Petersburg balls and depicts the horrifying descent into madness of
the play's protagonist, Evgeny Arbenin, who jealously poisons his innocent wife. The shorter
works on this disc likewise show Glazunov's amazing command of orchestral resources,
whether evoking an exotic oriental vision, the vivacious spirit of Hungarian music, in the Pas de
caract¨re, or painting a mood of gentle romantic lyricism.