Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Stravinsky: Three Dances from Petrouchka

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Ivan Moravec's performances of the Scherzos make an interesting contrast to the supercharged versions of Cyprien Katsaris (Teldec). Katsaris is often frenetically fast, and he convinces you by overwhelming you. Moravec is more nuanced, mellower, more downright sensible. Yet he never lacks for excitement, and in the end his playing is a more profound and satisfying statement of the music. The other selected Chopin pieces are just as satisfying, and the recording, made in the legendary Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, is extremely realistic. This is one of the better Chopin recitals currently available. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Il Vecchio Castello (The Ancient Castle)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Tuileries (Argument Among The Children)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo (A Polish Oxcart)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Chicks In Their Shells
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg And Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Market Place At Limoges
Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombae, Sepulcrum Romanum (Catacombs - Roman Sepulchre), Cum moruis in lingua mortua (Among The Dead In A Dead Language)
Pictures At An Exhibition: Baba Yaga, The Hut On Fowl's Legs
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate At Kiev
Three Dances from Petrouchka: Danse Russe
Three Dances from Petrouchka: Chez Petrouchka
Three Dances from Petrouchka: La Semaine Grasse (Shrovetide Week)

Amazon.com

Ivan Moravec's performances of the Scherzos make an interesting contrast to the supercharged versions of Cyprien Katsaris (Teldec). Katsaris is often frenetically fast, and he convinces you by overwhelming you. Moravec is more nuanced, mellower, more downright sensible. Yet he never lacks for excitement, and in the end his playing is a more profound and satisfying statement of the music. The other selected Chopin pieces are just as satisfying, and the recording, made in the legendary Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, is extremely realistic. This is one of the better Chopin recitals currently available. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Forget the transcription, delight in the registration.......2007-05-17

I tend to agree with the other reviewers about the transcription itself (Pictures). I find it over the top, frankly. However, the playing is sublime and the interpretation weird but well thought out.

I suggest you listen to the recording because it brings out the organ's delicious stops (the Gnome for example uses the contrafagotto briliantly). Quirky it is, but I like its colourings.

Probably not what you're looking for..........2006-12-22

This is one of those unfortunate recordings which gets far too much kudos for its - admittedly exceptional - technical qualities. Jean Guillou has actually tried pretty hard to voice a new interpretation of Mussorgsky's "Pictures" but is ultimately unsuccessful. It was an admirable attempt but musically it is not really up to scratch. Guillou is a fine performer but would probably have been better off sticking to Cesar Franck's compositions rather than taking on Mussorgsky.

The much-vaunted recording quality is, indeed, worth mentioning because it is so clean and is a good test for an audiophile-grade HiFi system but it must be remembered that this is supposed to be about the music and I will not give it points on that score alone. There are many other recordings of excellent quality out there which are better interpretations as well. The recording doesn't fit into the "disaster" category, as does the Emerson, Lake and Palmer offering from the 1970s which merged "Pictures" with - Lord help us - prog rock, but it probably won't satisfy either pipe organ fans or afficianados of the original work.

To a degree, I personally like it but I cannot recommend it as a good interpretation. I can only put it in the "nice try" category.

Very impressive !.......2005-01-20

Like his other recordings, this disc demonstrates the fantastic genius of Jean Guillou. The choice of the correct organ stops for the "Pictures", a typicaly piano work, is a particularly difficult problem, briliantly resolved by Guillou. The stops he uses create "acoustic" pictures that stick very well to the different pieces.
And the technique of Guillou is amazing, showing his mastery of his instrument.

A HUGE disappointment.......2004-12-16

It seems my opinion is at odds with the previous 2 reviews posted. I bought this CD when it first came out and had been reviewed favorably by Stereophile. Being quite familiar with "Pictures..." I was looking forward to a tour d'force, given the capabilities of a world class pipe organ. What a disappointment!!! While the recording and playing technique is outstanding, the transcription/interpretation, taken as a whole, is abysmal. Starting with the weak registration selected to open the first "Promenade", things never really get better, although they do get worse. Guillou takes off on a bizarre tangent in "The Great Gate..." which seems more of a personal exorcism than an interpretive benefit. If memory serves me, "The Tuileries" and "...Chicks in their Shells" were the lesser evils. Frankly, I found the description of the organ in the liner notes more interesting than the performance. My opinion is that the best use of this CD is for testing the bass response of your loudspeakers. There is good news, however; just recently I was able to sell this CD!!!! My advice is to listen to this CD in its entirety before committing any money to buy it.

An absolutly fantastic recording.......2002-11-13

One of the best organ recordings I have ever heard. In this instance the organ version sounds much, much better than the orchestral version. Use of different colors of the organ simply outstanding!! Guillou's playing was stunning!!

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