The Seasons

Glazunov almost did not write The Seasons, planning the ballet Harlequinade until he and Riccardo Drigo realised a mutual affinity for each other’s subject and swapped accordingly. First heard in St Petersburg on 23 February 1900, the work has four tableaux. In “Winter”, an atmospheric introduction features a melody heard in variations evoking frost, ice, hail and snow, then a coda combining all four. In “Spring”, a continuous passage depicts the gradual emerging of zephyrs, fairies, birds and flowers for a scenic panorama. In “Summer”, a brief prelude sets the scene for waltzing cornflowers and poppies, followed by an easeful barcarolle for naiads, satyrs and fauns; a plaintive variation for corn; and then an animated coda. In “Autumn”, the energetic bacchanale recalls earlier seasons before a soulful “Little Adagio”, a stealthy variation for the satyr, then the bacchanale’s joyful return and ominous foretaste of “Winter” before a triumphal apotheosis looks to the starry heavens. With its roots in Delibes and Adam, the ballet was highly successful and is still among Glazunov’s most popular works.