"Pictures at an Exhibition" (Ravel version)

[shelnatowsky]

What is your opinion of Ravel's conversion to orchestra of Mussorgsky's piano piece, "Pictures at an Exhibition?" And, in your opinion, which performances of the orchestral version are your top three favorites?

[knight66]

I enjoy it and I have a Fritz Reiner conducting. But I prefer the piano version. It is darker and the Ravel turns it into a spectacular fairground. I would prefer something that does open up on the piano sounds, but retains that candle lit feel I get from the original.

Mike

[North Star]

I prefer the piano version, too - but the orchestration is wonderful, too, but it's Mussorgsky/Ravel, not Mussorgsky.

I only have this one recording of the orchestration, by Sokhiev & Toulouse. One of my favourite recordings of orchestral playing.
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[Mirror Image]

Three favorite performances of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition with Ravel's orchestration?

1. Gergiev/VPO
2. Maazel/Cleveland
3. Dohnanyi/Cleveland

[Brian]

I enjoy it and I have a Fritz Reiner conducting. But I prefer the piano version. It is darker and the Ravel turns it into a spectacular fairground. I would prefer something that does open up on the piano sounds, but retains that candle lit feel I get from the original.

Mike

The number of orchestrations around is truly incredible. Stokowski's version is both darker and more spectacular, definitely not the candle lighting you're looking for. There's a Leonard Slatkin recording which uses 15 different orchestrators, including Vladimir Ashkenazy.

[knight66]

Yes, I ought to get stuck into Spotify with it and see what orchestrations I can turn up. I have not heard the Shostakovich orchestration and that should be interesting.

I thought the Stokowski was incomplete. I must have a look but I thought he omitted some movements. Could be wrong there.

Mike

[Brian]

Yes, I ought to get stuck into Spotify with it and see what orchestrations I can turn up. I have not heard the Shostakovich orchestration and that should be interesting.

I thought the Stokowski was incomplete. I must have a look but I thought he omitted some movements. Could be wrong there.

Mike

Ravel omitted a "Promenade." I haven't heard the Shostakovich either, but really want to now that I know it exists!

[TheGSMoeller]

I really like Ashkenazy's orchestration, stronger brass parts.

But for Ravel's, I like Muti's with Philadelphia Orch. on Philips. I don't own many recordings of this piece, but have always enjoyed this one.

[knight66]

Stokowski omitted two movements, Tuileries and Limoges. Pity really.

Mike

Edit: He thought that the two movements above may have been composed by Rimsky.

[Karl Henning]

Curious exercise of hostility, eh?

[knight66]

Perhaps he was looking for the ur-text. But he was such an inveterate fiddler of people's orchestrations I am surprised authenticity was an issue for him.

Mike

[Karl Henning]

Forsooth.

[MishaK]

I prefer the piano version, too - but the orchestration is wonderful, too, but it's Mussorgsky/Ravel, not Mussorgsky.

I only have this one recording of the orchestration, by Sokhiev & Toulouse. One of my favourite recordings of orchestral playing.
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Seconded! Excellent performances, the Tchaik 4 too. Just heard this on spotify after hearing Sokhiev do Tchaik 4 live with CSO a week ago.

There are so many things though that bother me about the Ravel orchestration, but probably none more so than the interlude in the Great Gate leading up to the reappearance of the Promenade theme. That writing should basically sound like the Coronation Scene in Boris Godunow, but Ravel misses the point. It should almost sound like proto-Stravinsky. Then there is that silly saxophone in the Old Castle...

I really like Ashkenazy's orchestration, stronger brass parts.

Also seconded. Excellent orchestration and excellent recording of both the piano and his orchestral version.

For those looking for the Stoki version, there is an excellent performance in modern sound with Knussen/Cleveland

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[Parsifal]

Fluffy did an astonishing recording of the piece for DG in the 60's.  (There's another DG recording from the 80's which wasn't nearly as impressive).

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The Le Mer from this collection (also 60's) is another wonder.