Symphony No 3, 'Il'ya Mouromets',Op. 42.

"Leon Botstein is one of the champions of the byways of the late Romantic repertoire. Here, teamed up with the splendid LSO, he gives Glière's epic Third Symphony, Il'ya Mouromets, one of its occasional outings. Dating from the end of the 20th century's first decade, it tells a legendary tale of heroic deeds by the knight errant of the title. Glière uses his colossal forces - quadruple woodwind, eight horns, four trumpets, four trombones among them - to powerful and thrilling effect."
Editor's Choice (Gramophone Magazine February 2003)

"If you fancy a wallow in the glorious Indian summer of late Romanticism, you can treat yourself with confidence."
(MusicWeb Aug 2007)

Leon Botstein reveals the magic of Gliere's Symphony No. 3, Ilya Murometz on a new and exquisite Telarc recording featuring the London Symphony Orchestra.

Known mainly for his nationalistic works, including the magnificent "Hymn for the Great City," from his ballet The Bronze Horsemen, Reinhold Mortizevich Gliere (1875-1956) was one of the most innovative and evocative Russian composers of the late Romantic period. His works were studied and praised in the USSR as the examples of a perfect pairing of European form and Eastern folklore. Influenced greatly by Tchaikovsky, Gliere began his studies at the Kiev Music College at age 16 and then three years later entered the Moscow Conservatory. His graduation composition was his Symphony No. 1.

Gliere's third and last symphony, Ilya Murometz is his most ambitious work, combining the tradition of Borodin and Glazunov (to whom the symphony is dedicated) with hints of figures and voices from late European Romanticism, mainly that of Richard Strauss. His subject, Ilya Murometz, is one of the central figures of the old Russian bylini, or heroic chants. Episodes from the legend of Ilya are recounted in detail in the preface to Gliere's score and form the basis for each of the four movements.

Leon Botstein is the music director and principal conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra, which performs regularly at Lincoln Center. He is also the founder and co-artistic director of the Bard Music Festival at Bard College in New York's Hudson Valley, where he has been president since 1975. Mr. Botstein frequently guest conducts throughout Europe with the NDR Symphony, London Philharmonia, Jerusalem Symphony and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, among others.

Botstein's recordings for Telarc include music of Max Reger, Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and music of Szymanowski with the London Philharmonic as well as a live recording of Strauss' Die Liebe der Danae with the American Symphony Orchestra. Among his upcoming projects is a live recording of Strauss' Die Agyptische Helena with the American Symphony Orchestra and Deborah Voight, set for release in the summer of 2003.