Mussorgsky est mon compositeur préféré, en fait, j adore les compositeurs Russe, profondeur, mystère et magistral. Pour moi c'est tellement beau et parfait.
When I was ten (1950), I subscribed to the RCA Red Label Record Club and the second record I acquired was Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition and, I believe, Offenbach's Des Bouffes-Parisiens was on the other side. I lied in bed listening to classics on my little radio coming on short-wave Radio Nederland and mother would holler up the stairs, "You shut that off now and go to sleep!'. I'm 84 now and it's still part of me.
I think the maestro was taking our modern impatience into account since the theme repeats so many times albeit in different variations. When I play this on the piano I play the promenade movements just fast enough to be fluent with the melody not losing its horizontal character.
If you call up the Wiki entry on Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition you'll find a section listing about 30 orchestrations of this piano work. In addition to Ravel and Stokowski, the two most recorded versions, there are others by Sir Henry Wood, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vaclav Smetacek, Lawrence Leonard, Lucien Cailliet and Leo Funtek, as well as the Gorchakov version heard here. All these and several others have had at least one recording each. In addition, Leonard Slatkin has devised more than one 'compendium' version in which each Promenade and Picture is orchestrated by a different arranger. These Slatkin versions have also been recorded. Indeed, I wonder if Mussorgsky's piano work has had more orchestrations than any other keyboard piece?
The differentia lay in which conductor is leading the orchestra -----"his interpretation" if you will. Also, the sound produced by any given orchestra.
How can you improve on Ravel? I say, leave it alone. If most people are sitting there "listening" while comparing it to Ravel all the while, what's the point?? It's like rearranging Beethoven's 5th. As for the first promenade, must have been a really bad exhibit if the guy was rushing through it that quickly!
I was spending Christmas by myself, travelling on Easter Island as a backpacker when I saw a cave carved into black stone by the seashore. Mussorgsky was my instinctual choice. I've stayed laying down on a rock looking at the walls of the cave: there were very simple paintings representing men in red. The Pacific Ocean was hitting the stones nearby and the place was magnificent. Without looking at the watch, just feeling and enjoying life. The place was strange: beautiful and morbid. I could feel it. Later on, I've learned the stone where I was laying for probably a couple of hours while listening to this music, was a sacrifice stone where a ritual was made once a year killing very young men. In particular the music I can hear now at 12:00 minutes was especially suited for the black cave, with the bright green of the ocean and a dark grey sky. I will never forget that perfect moment of peace and fulfilment. Life can be wonderful if we never give up searching for these experiences.
Such a brilliant interpretation... As for me...this is the most...visual, composition ever writen. Pictures at an exhibition, has always made me feel like a long drawn closed curtain is suddenly opened. Makes me smile. Regards, clb PS, best of all, As a kid... I first became acquainted with this piece of music thanks to Emerson, Lake and Palmers interpretation.
Here´s a little secret, but pshhhh. I remember a very difficult part where we had cut in a piece from another day. Look at 29:50. The woman, who is sitting left to Masur all the time suddenly disappears and a man takes her seat. But just for this one shot. Pshhhhh... 🙂
crying I met Daniel Wayen when I was a chil in France and he played for us anytime I fell in love with this piece so early in my teens on a Easter Satrurday looking a the distresses of warbin Kiev now thia is a painful admitable moment of reflection for me amazing music after all those years was inside of me Thank you its a bittersweet Easter be all abundantjy blessed
I liked very much this interpretation. My compliments to the conductor and the players. The first and the last pictures are unforgettable masterpieces. Great Mussorgsky and thank you for such a divine music that touch very much the soul
Maestro Kurt Masur, one of the greatest conductors, conducting the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, possibly the oldest orchestra in the world and without doubt one of the finest. It doesn´t get any better than this. A monumental performance from all points of view!
Much prefer Ravel's orchestration. More colorful, less fussy in the Great Gate, and more powerful in the coda's last few chords. Toscanini's small changes to the Ravel score make it better still.
This has to be the best rendition of this masterpiece i have ever heard. The first Promenade is very much on the speedy side, but the strings give it a level of elegance i have not heard in this piece before. And god, the trumpets calling out in their crystal clear fashion at 32:05 is chilling. Not to mention the brilliant way 33:04 and the building up towards it is played almost staccato. Absolutely brilliant.
According to the Wiki entry on "Pictures at an Exhibition" this arrangement by Gortchakov is one of about 30 orchestrations of this work. The most well-known is of course Ravel's, but it was also transcribed by Leopold Stokowski, Sir Henry Wood, Mikhail Tushmalov, Leo Funtek, Walter Goehr, Lawrence Leonard, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Vaclav Smetacek, and numerous others. In fact, it has become the most orchestrated piano piece of all time and I expect there'll be more to come!
Gracias a mi hermano, que tenia mucho oido y era fan de Emerson Lake & Palmer, yo, de adolescente, empecé a apreciar la música de Mussorsky. Gracias broder :-)
Great conductor Kuurt Masur, grat orchestra. His very peculiar way to conduct "Pictures at an Exhibition" that was composed based on different pictures. I love this version. Thanks
Now, one must say Kurt Masur is definetly a active director and leader. How gorgeous he directs this “exhibition” with Leipzig orchestra. Thanks Kurt Masur. Ralph
Gorgeous? I have never been involved in Orchestra before and so this director looks either super passionate at time or like he is still a little cracked out. I can't help but feel that way. It probably doesn't help I am from New Mexico.
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I've never seen nor heard this version. But I too like it alot. The people who attended this performance are very lucky indeed. Everyone looks so nice in their performance clothes
I have always loved Pictures. To see the dynamics of brass, string and woodwinds (and mulitples of each) blend them together and you truly have musical Pictures at an Exhibition.
I first heard this music after a visit to an art exhibition with my school about 1982 AGED 10. When we got back to class they had a slide show of the artwork with this music playing. This was my introduction to culture so to speak. Last night went to see performance of this at the royal festival hall london. COMPLETLEY AMAZING. First classical concert will not be last.
That culture has nothing in common with the terrorism this country is commiting now!... I appreciate that culture (of the times when this composer lived for example, and not only his particular works and time) too, although I am ukrainian (at some points long ago our cultures "interlaced" as you may call it, and even a lot of works which are commonly related to russian culture were created by ukrainian people too).. But there is no excuse to what is happening now... Just to remind... So maybe what you called "this tide of russophobia" is somewhat reasonable now too... Otherwise, maybe if you noticed, the last piece is called "The Great Gate of Kiev" and its absolutely beautiful :) Sorry, I noticed that this comment was made just 8 months ago so I coudn't be silent on this account.. Have a nice day
I think you left out one - the Tuileries, it comes just after The Old Castle and before Bydlo The Ox Cart. But, having said that, this is the best orchestral arrangement I've heard in a while. Just my subjective opinion. No critique here, I just love it.
Miss Capri it's funny you say that, because I was just going to complain about the commercial which comes up on occasion right after Tuileries....it's very annoying if I do say so myself QQ
It's funny, but whenever I hear the "Great Gates of Kiev" section, I imagine the knight's squire riding triumphantly back into the city with the Jabberwocky head in tow. lol
When I think of Mussorgsky'states the life , which was never rewarded and he died in poverty , I can't stop shedding tears , This Mussorgsky's masterpiece , exquisitely arranged by the genius Ravel , is comfortable to the mind and the ear This masterpiece will transcend time , race , nation and space , and will continue living forever From Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵
@@pensandshakers Thankyou I hope you are well The number of the infected people is increasing in Japan , especially Tokyo Be on the alert for Covid19 From A corner of Tokyo where is very hot and humid
Muito bonita e original esta orquestração. Talvez o Ravel ficasse bravo pelo tempo mais rapido e pelas figuras mais vigorosas utilizadas. Gostei muito!
The Violins are amazing almost sexual the way Promenade begins Such a difficult instrument to master the energy animation !! That what impresses me this timeless ... PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION !! Bravo !!!!
I agree, but I do like this one very much. It's closer to the original, and it sounds more Russian. I saw Masur and the LGO at Carnegie Hall many years ago do this, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't Ravel. Something different!
I agree to a certain extent. There are a lot of parts that Ravel definitely orchestrated better, like having the brass lead the theme in "Gate of Kiev." Much richer arrangement. But I can't complain here. Honestly I'm digging this version of "Bydlo" better than Ravel's. It just has a darker quality to it that kinda intrigues me, you know. But to each their own.
Obviously many people prefer Ravel. However, I give Gortchakov full marks for actually including all the promenades, as well as doing justice to the one Ravel left out. Some of the orchestrations are not a full bodied and robust as Ravel's, but there are also many movements that are brilliantly executed in this version. Bydlo, Samuel Goldberg and Schmyule, Limoges, and Catacombs are very well done here.
I think the fortissimo horns in the opening of Bydlo sound much darker and more menacing, but ravel’s choice to score the melody for the tuba’s high register gives it a more rustic feel
A versão de Gortchakov com kurt Masur trata-se de uma preciosidade. Mais próxima do original, ao piano, é exuberantemente interpretada, rica em detalhes e expressividade. Bravo!!! Imperdível!!!!!!
26:08 This part remembers me to the intro theme of news program of Televisa Mexico, 24 Horas. And 26:20 remembers me a scene of Looney Tunes Back In Action, when Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck run for Elmer Fudd in the differetent paints in the Louvre Museum.
Ależ piękne, pełne znakomicie poprowadzonych kontrastów wykonanie. POLECAM! What a beautiful performance, full of brilliantly drawn contrasts. I RECOMMEND!
Глупыш ты, а историю Хиросимы и Нагасаки не слышал? Кто сбросил бомбу Малыш? Эта музыка - порождение русской души, не слушай её, она сделает из тебя русского или китайца. Стряхивай лапшу с ушей ;) И не ешь котлеты с мухами внутри ;)
Una stupenda interpretazione. Rivelatrice di molti aspetti preziosi della partitura che spesso vengono nascosti. E' bene comunque evidenziare che si tratta NON della classica orchestrazione di Maurice Ravel, ma di quella - a mio parere, non inferiore - di Sergei Petrovich Gortchakov.
Played this in college. I had the trumpet solo portion. At least in that arrangement. The old castle is the best part imo. So much emotion. Learned the whole thing in two days concert on Sunday. Best 3 days of my musical career days. That was long ago.
Splendid. Do not have enough words to show how much I loved this orchestration. First time I've listened in over 50 years, and I still remembered every musical picture. Vielen Dank Kurt Masur und das Orchestra Leipzig!
You get a like for uploading a great version of my all-time favorite and you get a "Sub" for putting the commercials at the bookends and not interrupting the way the great artist intended it!
This masterpiece was often played during our music lessons by two excellent teachers I will never forget: Mr Gresser and Mr Bergmann from Grabbe-Gymnasium in Detmold Germany. Thanks to their teachings I had access to classical music and learned to appreciate it.
An awesome rendition. Very enjoyable to listen to while cooking! Was struck by how the celebratory adulation by the audience at the end is white noise... a strange custom in response to an amazing performance. Hmmm.
I really liked this interpretation of Baba Yaga. The "knocking" (26:37) reminds us that the picture which inspired this piece actually represented a clock in the form of a house on a hen's legs.
