Mussorgsky

[Jo498]

I don't know enough about the reception history of the piece but it seems to be the case that the Ravel orchestration gave it a huge boost in popularity. My case it was not as extreme as Jeffrey's but still something like 15 vs. 25 because the orchestration is often one of the first pieces one gets to know when becoming interested in classical music. Whereas the original version by now has its firm place in the repertoire, this seems a more recent development; it is not one of the most popular pieces and there are many pianists who have not played it.

[North Star]

Agree.  Which is fortunate, because the original is orders of magnitude better than the orchestration.  What a pity it would have been had it faded into oblivion.

This.

[Monsieur Croche]

I vehemently disagree, for the simple reason that pianists, being the beasts they are, would never let this monumental set of pieces alone; that would be enough over time to give the work a decent relative prominence "in the rep/literature," even if it escaped those who only listen to orchestral music.

[relm1]

What is your favorite recording of Pictures at an Exhibition?  The one you would use to "sell" someone on the work if they've never heard it before?  I ask because I just heard what I consider a subpar performance from Fabrizio Ventura and the Sinfonieorchester Munster.  Very unmusical.  I recall hearing various performances that were devastating in their impact but forgot which recordings those were.  Perhaps Solti/Chicago?

[vandermolen]

What is your favorite recording of Pictures at an Exhibition?  The one you would use to "sell" someone on the work if they've never heard it before?  I ask because I just heard what I consider a subpar performance from Fabrizio Ventura and the Sinfonieorchester Munster.  Very unmusical.  I recall hearing various performances that were devastating in their impact but forgot which recordings those were.  Perhaps Solti/Chicago?

Not the version by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. 

But I like this version:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mussorgsky-Pictures-Exhibition-Koussevitzky-1930-1947/dp/B06Y18G9LR/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1499752911&sr=8-5&keywords=Mussorgsky+pictures

Was very pleased to visit the 'Great Gate of Kiev' when I was in Kyiv recently.

[cilgwyn]

"We're gonna give you Pictures at an Exhibition"!!!!

[vandermolen]

"We're gonna give you Pictures at an Exhibition"!!!!

Oh No! Aaaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhhh

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Curious to know why Sorochintsy Fair isn't better known considering it features the version of Night on Bald Mountain that is closest to the version arranged by Rimsky-Korsakov that made it so famous.............any ideas?

[snyprrr]

Is that Abbado disc still a go-to for "other stuff"? Maybe I need some Mussorgsky? All I have is a very slow Giulini/SONY with Berlin. Used to have Karajan way back... had the Christoff set...

eh... uhmmm...

[vandermolen]

Is that Abbado disc still a go-to for "other stuff"? Maybe I need some Mussorgsky? All I have is a very slow Giulini/SONY with Berlin. Used to have Karajan way back... had the Christoff set...

eh... uhmmm...

Yes, always liked that disc.

[Jo498]

There are actually two Abbado discs with "other stuff"; one on RCA ca. 1980 and one on Sony from the 1990s.

[vandermolen]

There are actually two Abbado discs with "other stuff"; one on RCA ca. 1980 and one on Sony from the 1990s.

Mine was RCA I'm sure - I had the LP originally and it got played a lot.
Here it is:
[asin]B000003FBY[/asin]
It is availably very cheaply, second-hand, on the Amazon UK and US sites.

[Jo498]

The RCA has been re-issued and is even new fairly cheap (around 8 EUR). I have actually both because I bought the RCA not realizing that I had the Sony in a box.. I have not systematically compared them, one reviewer clearly prefers the RCA sonically; they overlap in most important pieces but the Sony has a few vocal numbers and the "Intermezzo" thrown in. They are so cheap that those interested can get both.

[asin]B00ISH20YG[/asin] [asin]B00008A8OX[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

I like Fritz Reiner's recording best. I like the way he brings out all the grotesquerie and eeriness of the score. It's spooky and exciting. The fill-ups are good too. The sound quality is very good for the day. You can always give it a bit more bass,anyway.
I do like the Emerson,Lake and Palmer when I'm in the mood for some 70's excess.!! It was originally a piano score,anyway! I'm not really too keen on Ravel,to be honest. A great composer,undoubtedly. Just not my cup of tea. And don't tell me to try this or that by him,because I've tried hard over the years. Debussy! Now you're talking! I like Debussy.

[vandermolen]

I like this version very much and have heard it live:
[asin]B000U9XG2K[/asin]

Actually I had the E L and P version on LP and did not mind it that much.

[cilgwyn]

That sounds very interesting. I'll certainly keep that one in mind. The Stokowski is the one that gets the most attention,after the Ravel. I taped a recording off the radio once,and I think I preferred it,in some ways! I can't remember who the conductor was? I must admit I do actually rather like ELP (reduced to Palmer,now!). Their Pictures at an Exhibition isn't really them at their best;but it's just ott fun,when I'm in the right mood. Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer were good musicians,which helps. The worst bit has to be where Lake sings lyrics written to Mussorgsky's music!! Excrutiating stuff,but unintentionally hilarious,imho! Their best album is Brain Salad Surgery. Perhaps they needed some ?!! I also had the Tomita album. My sister bought it for me,thinking it was the ELP album,which I wanted at the time. Have you ever heard this? Tomita actually taking the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks literally,with clucking sounds to Mussorgsky's music!! How bad can it get,eh?!! I remember playing the track to some friends years ago,who promptly laughed so much they actually fell of their chairs!!



(The original Lp sleeve design)

[relm1]

This one isn't bad...it's the Ashkenazy orchestration.
https://www.amazon.com/Pictures-At-Exhibition-Orchestra-Piano/dp/B0000041Q6

If interested, the full score can be viewed online at the publisher here: http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Modeste-Moussorgsky-Pictures-at-an-Exhibition-orch-Ashkenazy/4615

[calyptorhynchus]

I've just taken delivery of the Briliant Sorochintsi Fair and discovered it doesn't come with an English libretto.

Does anyone know of a downloadable English libretto (IDSLP or whatever the site is called only has a piano and Russian vocal text).

[North Star]

I've just taken delivery of the Briliant Sorochintsi Fair and discovered it doesn't come with an English libretto.

Does anyone know of a downloadable English libretto (IDSLP or whatever the site is called only has a piano and Russian vocal text).

http://www.brilliantclassics.com/media/445970/94670-Mussorgsky-Edition-Liner-Notes-Sung-texts-download-file.pdf

[vandermolen]

That sounds very interesting. I'll certainly keep that one in mind. The Stokowski is the one that gets the most attention,after the Ravel. I taped a recording off the radio once,and I think I preferred it,in some ways! I can't remember who the conductor was? I must admit I do actually rather like ELP (reduced to Palmer,now!). Their Pictures at an Exhibition isn't really them at their best;but it's just ott fun,when I'm in the right mood. Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer were good musicians,which helps. The worst bit has to be where Lake sings lyrics written to Mussorgsky's music!! Excrutiating stuff,but unintentionally hilarious,imho! Their best album is Brain Salad Surgery. Perhaps they needed some ?!! I also had the Tomita album. My sister bought it for me,thinking it was the ELP album,which I wanted at the time. Have you ever heard this? Tomita actually taking the Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks literally,with clucking sounds to Mussorgsky's music!! How bad can it get,eh?!! I remember playing the track to some friends years ago,who promptly laughed so much they actually fell of their chairs!!



(The original Lp sleeve design)

Am not a great fan of Tomita!