Glazunov began to compose this work at the age of fifteen. His diary records: ?I composed and orchestrated the slow movement of Symphony no. 1 (?Andante?) in the summer of 1881 . . . The score of the symphony was completed by the autumn.? It was first performed in St Petersburg on 29 March 1882. Although the composer was still a schoolboy his symphony was the work of ?fully-fledged musician with …