Glazunov seems to be achieving a level of acceptance that was, unjustly, long denied him. Chandos has already issued the second symphony and the Coronation Cantata (with the same forces as those on the present disc). Here the emphasis is on theater music: the Salomé pieces were written for the 1908 St. Petersburg production of Oscar Wilde"s play of the same name, and the The King of the Jews was composed for a mystery play by Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich. First and foremost, this disc is 70 minutes of sheer delight. The sweeping melodies of "Salomé"s Introduction" give way to the beautifully affecting chinoiserie of her dance. Almost all of the music for The King of the Jews (1913-1914) is recorded here. The chorus has a rich, homogeneous delivery, and there are excellent (but uncredited) solo lines in some of the movements. While the "Shepherd"s Musette" is 43 seconds of sweetness personified, it is the "Entr"acte to Act IV" that is marvelously peaceful, nodding toward Wagner in its solemn chord progressions. Full texts and translations are included. --Colin Clarke