St. John's Night On Bare Mountain

1. Sorochintsï Fair: Dream of the Peasant Gritsko (Night on Bald Mountain), for chorus & orchestra
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Anatoly Kotcherga , Berlin Radio Children's Chorus

2. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov Prelude
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

3. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov Aria: Spit Streleckoe Gnezdo (In the Streltsy Quarter all are Sleeping)
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , Anatoly Kotcherga
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

4. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov Aria: the Departure of Prince Golizyn
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

5. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov Aria: Sily Potajnye (Mysterious Powers)
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , Miranna Tarassova
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

6. Khovanshchina, opera in 5 acts, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov Dance of the Persian Slave Girls
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

7. Scherzo, for piano in B-flat Major
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

8. Intermezzo in modo classico, for orchestra in B minor, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

9. Festive March, for orchestra (intended as insertion for the collaborative opera Mlada) Festive March
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Claudio Abbado

Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Average customer rating:

A gem from Abbado's past
Abbado's early recording of Mussorgsky
Mussorgsky's incredible early choral works
Buy it for the original 'Night'
Infinitely surperior version of "Night on Bald Mountain"

Claudio Abbado Conducts Mussorgsky

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mussorgsky: Pictures at An Exhibition
Mussorgsky - Boris Godunov / Kotscherga, Ramey, Lipovsek, Larin, Leiferkus, Langridge, Abbado
Mussorgsky: Kovanshchina - Abbado
Balakirev: Piano Concertos No. 1 in F-Sharp Minor and No. 2 in E-Flat Major / Rimsky-Korsakov: Piano Concerto in C-Sharp Minor
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tsar's Bride

ASIN: B000003FBY
Release Date: 1992-10-05

Tracks:

Khovanshchina: Galitsin's Journey
Joshua
Salammbo: Chorus Of Priestesses
Scherzo
Destruction Of Sennacherib
Night On Bald Mountain
Oedipus In Athens
Khovanshchina: Prelude
Triumphal March

Customer Reviews:

A gem from Abbado's past.......2005-09-04

I think Abbado has evolved into our greatest living conductor, but it was a long road. In the beginning he sowed exceptional promise, but there were years when he turned out careful, well-balanced, uninspiring performances. This isn't one of them, unlike his tchaikovsky with the CSO. He had chemistry with the LSO, and this colleciton of "unknown" Mussorgsky is dramatic and committed from first to last.

Everyone has already pointed that out, but if you have reservations about a conductor who is sometimes demeaned as "a-bored-o" I wanted to alleviate your fears.

Abbado's early recording of Mussorgsky.......2005-08-23

The recording was made before Abbado became the ultimate interpreter of Mussorgsky, but one can see why he became so.

The analog to digital remastering is fine.

The orchestra playing is colourful.

The main reason to purchase it, though, is the repertoire:
Mussorgsky's first version of Night on the Bare Mountain, and the composer's choral works.
All are wonderfully expressed.

I see that Abbado recorded a newer cd of similar content.
Perhaps you should check it out too.

Mussorgsky's incredible early choral works.......2003-09-29

Yes, the original version of "Night on Bald Mountain" performed on this CD is much better than the Rimsky version. It's ferocious and almost terrifying at times. But it is Abbado's recordings of Mussorgsky's early choral works that make this CD such a gem. I have never been able to understand why these brilliant works have not achieved wider currency. Outside of Abbado, very few conductors have recorded these pieces (a Valeri Polyansky CD on Chandos Records has a couple of them and Abbado recorded all of them again for Deutsche Grammophon a few years ago but this CD is sadly not available in the U.S.).

If you are captivated--as I am--by the choral pieces from Boris Godunov and Khovanshchina, then you will surely enjoy Mussorgsky's early choral works. The choral pieces on this CD, though written by a young Mussorgsky, are no less inspired than those from his later operas. "Joshua" and the "Chorus of Priestesses" are from Mussorgsky's first opera Salammbo, which he left unfinished after completing only one act (Salammbo was recorded about 20 years ago in Italy for CBS Records but this recording has unfortunately never been transferred to CD). "The Destruction of Sennacherib" and "Oedipus in Athens" are independent choral pieces, both of which are quite striking and contain moments of great depth. To be sure, there is little of Mussorgsky's more 'advanced' harmony in these pieces, of the sort employed in the song-cycle Sunless, for instance. But it scarcely matters! These pieces stand on their own. The "Destruction Of Sennacherib" contains a central section that is supposed to depict the Angel of Death, which in my view is one of the most arresting and haunting passages in all of Russian--or Western--choral music.

I should also note that the Prelude and Galitsin's Journey from Khovanshchina live up to the quality of Abbado's live recording of the complete Khovanshchina on Deutsche Grammophon. (I have to agree with the other reviewer that Abbado is the greatest conductor of Mussorgsky.) I would frankly recommend all of Abbado's Mussorgsky recordings, but especially his Khovanshchina. If you don't want to get the entire opera, try the Sony CD with Abbado conducting the Berlin Philharmonic, which contains some further excerpts from Khovanshchina not included on the CD under review here. Anatoly Kotcherga's singing on Shaklovity's aria is profoundly moving.

Buy it for the original 'Night'.......2000-06-15

If you've heard Mussorgsky's 'Night on Bald Mountain' before chances are that it was the Rimsky-Korsakov version, which is much more familiar to the world (the introduction is used in countless commercials, movies, TV shows etc. and it was used in a truncated form in Disney's original Fantasia). While Rimsky's version is wonderful and I enjoy it very much, the original surpasses it in both originality and excitement. This piece was radically ahead of its time, so it's no wonder Rimsky toned it down when he re-orchestrated it and rewrote certain parts- he, like most people of the time, probably didn't understand it. Rimsky managed to retain the spookiness of the piece, but what his version lacks is the original's percussive nature and outright savagery. The conclusion of the original is much more exciting than Rimsky's 'morning breaking with church bells'- it represents the orgy of the pagan spirits and witches with much more vividness, and has more of a climax. If you have a recording of the Rimsky version I suggest this strongly, and if you have neither version I suggest it even more.

Besides 'Night' this recording features a very good selection of other Mussorgsky works (most of which are Rimsky versions, though). The 'Chorus of the People in the Temple' from 'Oedipus in Athens' is one of my favorites. Abbado, as usual, is marvelous as are the LSO and Chorus. I'd recommend this CD for the original 'Night' if nothing else.

Infinitely surperior version of "Night on Bald Mountain".......2000-05-24

A superb disc throughout, yet the original version of "Night on Bald Mountain" is what sets it apart. After listening to this rarity I was shocked at the liberties Rimsky-Korsakov took in rewriting it to the more "listener friendly" version most of us are so familiar with. They're two completely different pieces; the original sounding almost as if it could be from the 20th century, while the altered piece retaining a definite romantic sound. I would venture to say that, in its original form, it may well have been inspiration for Stravinsky's "The Rite Of Spring".

Tracks:

Toccata In DeMole
Hall Of The Mountain King
Harvest Dance
The Flying Dutchman
Z-Row Gravity
Funeral March Of A Marionette
Rock & Roll Graveyard
Night On Bald Mountain
Crystal
All Hallow's Eve
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Rite Of Twilight
Ride Of The Falkyries

Tracks:

Enchanted Forest
The Other Side
Enchanted Forest II
The Reaper
Ghost Voices
Alien Spaceship
Enchanted Forest III
Mountain King
Digital Death
Souls Demise

Customer Reviews:

Hallo-wha?.......2006-04-19

Let me start by saying I've never listened to Steamroller before picking this up. I am a big fan of Halloween and have quite a collection of music/sound fx so naturally, this was a must buy when I saw it.
Strictly from a Halloween fan's point of view, I can't recommend this except maybe for a kids party. The synth on the tracks really removes any spookiness from the tunes and makes them fall short of Halloween-worthiness. Tocatta and Hall of the Mountain King are some of my absolute favorite classical pieces and here they are given a royal treatment...if they were produced on a Commodore 64, or Casio keyboard for you younger folk.
The FX disc isn't horrible, but it's below the average generic sound fx you find in the bargain bin. Again, not much scary except for the fact that I spent money on this.
If possible, check it out before you buy.

An interest take on the usual.......2005-11-06

I wasn't sure what I'd think of this from reading other reviews, but I really did like it. I'm not really familiar with Mannheim's other stuff (but if the rest of the Autumn cd is anything like Harvest Dance, I'm looking forward to getting it), so I didn't have any preconceived ideas. I have a lot of the classical pieces on other cds, but I like the different twist given to them here. And I did like the sound effect cd. Nicely spooky (I have enough other sound effects cds with screaming and muching ghouls, etc).

Could have been great but . . ........2004-10-15

As a big Steamroller fan, perhaps my hopes were set a little too high. I envisioned more original music (perhaps a more scarier vibe than the silly one this CD has to it) and maybe a few covered tunes. Chips originals (from the Fresh Aire series)found on this CD outshine the weak efforts put forth on the covered and rearranged tracks. The sound effects disc sets a great(and creepy)mood, that should had been followed through with some new and equally scary compositions.

If you're a die hard Mannheim fan (as in 'I just have to own everything Chip puts out') I say go for it. But otherwise spend your Halloween money elsewhere. Overall this is a forced and lazy effort.

It's not That bad..........2004-06-14

It's not scary. There, you have it, that's what it all boils down to. With a creepy cover like that, you'd think it would be terrifying! It's not, but it's not bad, either!

A lot of the songs sound kind of like low-budget MIDI tunes that are sometimes embedded in websites.. but I think that might have been what the Steamroller was going for. Kind of like a broken Music Box? Anyway, only a few sound low budget, the rest sound good, even a few are a little "eerie" but at the same time, there's a lot that pretty much remind me of something you would hear come out of sesame street toy. The sound effects are great, though.

There's a few songs that are bad. there's a few that are "babyish" but there's also Lots that really capture the mood of halloween and some of it's eerieness. I can't really recommend it for Halloween itself (maybe if you already have every halloween cd already) but I think any Chip Davis fan should give it a listen.

Tries to please everyone.......2004-06-02

One of the neat things about the holiday of Halloween is that it is so versatile. Where Christmas has a very straightforward story (Santa or Jesus, take your pick), Halloween can be many things. Some people see it as a sort of Mardi Gras atmosphere, where any kind of costumed theme is suitable. Others see it as a dark holiday, only suited gothic castles, zombies, and monsters. Still others celebrate it in the style of gory slasher movies, complete with deranged serial killers and buckets of blood. And then there is the non-scary childrens Halloween, where the ghosts are cute and jack-o-lanterns all have goofy grins.

Tracks:

Thus Spake Zarathustra: Sunrise - Y2K ALBUM
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna - Orff
The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War - Holst
The Firebird Suite: Infernal Dance Of King Katschei - Stravinsky
The Valkyries: The Ride Of The Valkyries - Wagner
Requiem: Dies irae/Tuba mirum (part 1 of 2) - Y2K ALBUM
Requiem: Dies irae/Tuba mirum (part 2 of 2) - Y2K ALBUM
A Night On The Bare Mountain - Mussorgsky
Symphonie Fantastique: Dream Of The Witches' Sabbath - Berlioz
The Rite of Spring (From Part I - Adoration of the Earth): Ritual Of The Rival Tribes - Procession Of The Sage - The Sage -- Dance Of The Earth (Part 1 Of 3) - Y2K ALBUM
The Rite of Spring (From Part I - Adoration of the Earth): Ritual Of The Rival Tribes - Procession Of The Sage - The Sage -- Dance Of The Earth (Part 2 Of 3) - Y2K ALBUM
The Rite of Spring (From Part I - Adoration of the Earth): Ritual Of The Rival Tribes - Procession Of The Sage - The Sage -- Dance Of The Earth (Part 3 Of 3) - Y2K ALBUM
Alexander Nevsky: The Battle On The Ice - Prokofiev
Star Wars Suite: The Battle - Y2K ALBUM
The Twilight Of The Gods: The Immolation Of The Gods - Wagner

Customer Reviews:

DOOMSDAY CLASSICAL MUSIC !.......2005-06-18

Doomsday Classics! The title and concept for this novelty album may be dated, but the music is timeless! "HEAVY" classical music to be played LOUDLY! The arrangements and sound quality on this CD are EXCELLENT! One of my favorite compilation albums of classical music. For the price, don't let this one pass you by.

Spectacluar!!!.......2002-01-04

This is by far one of my favorite cds. I purchased it originally as a joke, but I have come to love it and play it very loudly when I'm in a bad mood. Spectacularly, it always helps cheer me up, or give me encouragement. Plus this is just some quality music, some of which any person who's heard classical music will recognize. :) Unfortunately, I somehow broke my copy, and now must buy a new one...it's such a relief that Amazon still carries it. :)

Love classical this is very very good.......1999-10-14

Have looked for good classical recordings in every possible location from "record clubs" to "music outlets" and this is the best as represented I've found. Would like to know more about artist,composers,and availability of all.

Original Masters: Leopold Stokowski: Decca Recordings 1964-1975 [BOX SET]

Average customer rating:

My own life is behind these recordings
Don't go for broke unless you're a die-hard Stokowski fan
More Sensational Stokowski

Original Masters: Leopold Stokowski: Decca Recordings 1964-1975 [BOX SET]

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Decca Recordings, 1965-1972 (Limited Edition)
CARL SCHURICHT Decca Recordings 1949-1956
Ernest Ansermet: Decca Recordings 1953-1967
Clara Haskil: Philips Recordings, 1951-1960
Pierre Monteux Decca & Philips Recordings, 1956-1964

ASIN: B00067R3BQ
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

My own life is behind these recordings.......2007-06-10

I can assure that one of the reason I love music is due to these recordings of Mr. Stokowsky. My father had the record of Scherezade and, though my father was an ignorant about cultivated music, he knew very well what to appreciate. We never argued when I played Beethoven's first symphony so loud, however, he always did when I played Rolling Stones so loud. I adore that he taught me to appreciate Rimsky-korsakov's music as well as Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Spagnolo so young. He was wise, on his way. I can't help to cry for him, listening to Borodin's Palatsovian dances, because, it is great music, and, having into account that I used to love it by Mr. Stokowsky's work, it doubles my crying and my remembrance. He loved the record so much. I love you, daddy.

Don't go for broke unless you're a die-hard Stokowski fan.......2006-09-22

When Stokowski began to make Phase 4 recordings for Decca in 1964, he was already 82, but he hadn't lost his energy or his tendency to shape music in outlandish ways. I mostly love him, but this box set duplicates recordings that can be found on the Cala label, which has been releasing everything Stokowski in the world, and on Decca single CDs if you go to the used market.

I mention this because the whole box set, Vol. 2 in the Original Masters series, continas some forgettable performances, in particular the rhythmically slack Beethoven Sym. 5 and 7, the over-highlighted Schubert 'Unfinished,' and a live Brahms First that seems manic and forced too much of the time. However, if you think of Stokowski having little to offer in the German classics, here is an exceptional Beethoven Ninth, one of the best things from his late career and wonderful in every way.

Decca knows that the crowd-pleasers are the gaudy, multi-miked Phase 4 versions of Scheherazade, as bombastic as you could imagine, and lots of Russian fare, including Stoki's signature synthesis from Boris Godunov. The 1812 Over., by the way, isn't over the top and yet needed to be. Finally, this German-Russian collection contains a thrilling disc of Wagner excerpts, much of it grossly over-miked, but at its core containing very impressive, vital interpretations.

In all, I'd select the Wagner, the Beethoven Ninth, and the legendary Scheherazade as the best things here. Buy them separately or take the plunge for this whole box, your choice.

More Sensational Stokowski.......2005-06-08

It took me a while to purchase this six-disc set in UNI's "Original Masters" series, but I finally did this past weekend. Classical music fans seem to either love or hate Leopold Stokowski (I, of course, love him), and unfortunately much of "Decca Recordings 1964-75, Volume 2" will be old news to serious devotees of the conductor. While I'm not familiar with the complete Decca back-catalog, at least three full discs worth of material have been previously available in the old "Weekend Classics" series -- Beethoven's 5th & 7th, Beethoven's 9th, and the Wagner selections. (I'm pretty sure the Rimsky-Korsakov material on disc five, and the Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky pieces on disc six have been issued prior too.) This is good news for those who came to collecting classical CDs late (like me) because while the Wagner is still available individually, the Beethovens have been fetching absurd prices in the Amazon Marketplace. The only material receiving its first international release is contained on disc 3 -- a Schubert "Unfinished" with the London Philharmonic from 1969 and a rousing live performance of the Brahms 1st with the London Symphony on the occasion of the conductor's 60th anniversary leading that body. The original instruments crowd will surely turn up their noses at these legendary performances, but me, I'll just sit back and listen to some more sensational sounding Stokowski.

Average customer rating:

London Cello Sound was bought in London

The London Cello Sound
Geoffrey Simon
Manufacturer: Cala Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000FDJ2
Release Date: 2006-10-26

Tracks:

The Swan
Vocalise
Sardana
Greensleeves Ste
West Side Story: Tonight

Customer Reviews:

London Cello Sound was bought in London.......2002-04-11

I wanted to get some CDs from Music & Video Exchange that reflected London music. The London Cello Sound had 40 cellos of the London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra. I'd sell it, but it is my favorite souvenir from my London trip. The Swan, Vocalise, Sasrdana, Greensleeves Suite, and Tonight, from West Side Story go too fast, leaving me to want more. I am going to look into CALA and se what else they have. Meanwhile, I'll keep The London Cello Sound.

Moussorgski: Tableaux d'une exposition; Une nuit sur le Mont Chauve

Average customer rating:

Moussorgski: Tableaux d'une exposition; Une nuit sur le Mont Chauve

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005AG74
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Mussorgsky-Stokowski: Pictures at an Exhibition

Average customer rating:

FOR A HIGH CHOLESTEROL ORCHESTRAL DIET
Not much Stokowski there.
A Naxos Triumph!
Leopold, Leopold, Leopold
Extraordinary recording by the Bournemouth Symphony and José Serebrier

Mussorgsky-Stokowski: Pictures at an Exhibition

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita (Handel · Scarlatti · Caldara) / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
William Alwyn: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Nielsen: Aladdin Suite; Pan and Syrinx; Saga Deam; Maskarade Overture; Helios Overture
William Alwyn: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5; Lyra Angelica (Harp Concerto)
Kurt Weill: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Lady in the Dark - Symphonic Nocturne

ASIN: B0009JVOKM
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

A Night On Bare Mountain
Entr'Acte To Act IV Of Khovanshchina
Symphonic Synthesis Of Boris Godunov
Promenade
Gnomus
Promenade
Il Vecchio Castello
Bydlo
Promenade
Ballet De Poussins Dans Leurs Coques
Samuel Goldberg And Schmuyle
Catacombs - Sepulchrum Romanum; Con Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
La Cabane Sur Des Pattes De Poule
La Grande Porte De Kiev
Solitude, Op.73, No.6
Humoresque, Op.10, No.2
Traditional Slavic Christmas Music

Customer Reviews:

FOR A HIGH CHOLESTEROL ORCHESTRAL DIET.......2006-11-17

Comparing the arrangements of Pictures at an Exhibition by Ravel and Stokowski is a fascinating exercise. They both seem so characteristic of the two arrangers. The cool French aesthete (though with his own hidden daemons just like Mussorgsky) paints with precision but with impressionist or even post-impressionist hues. Here is Monet, Cezanne or, in the bolder pieces, even van Gogh. The Londoner who liked to assume the persona of some sort of Slavic shaman/maestro is given to bolder, brasher colours - Kandinsky perhaps? Both are masters of the orchestra. Both remain true to the essentially Russian spirit of Mussorgsky - perhaps even more so in the case of Stokowski. Which perhaps explains why he developed the bizarre suspicion that the two 'French' pieces in the Suite - Tuileries and the Limoges Marketplace - were by Rimsky Korsakov and therefore left them out altogether. Maybe it was because Ravel had, naturally, succeeded in making them sound so French in his earlier version. For the rest, Stokowski is more than up for the grotesqueries of the Gnome, the deep Russian darkness of the catacombs, the wildness of Baba Yaga and the splendours of the Great Gate. But it is Ravel who gets closer to the heart of the old castle and Bydlo.

As for the performance, Serebrier was the Sorcerer's Apprentice, having been Stoky's assistant for some years, and he elicits truly Stokowskian sounds from the Bournemouth Symphony whose strings almost (but not quite) approach the velvety richness of the Master's Philadelphians.

The rest of their programme is equally rich fare. The orchestration of Night on the Bare Mountain, made famous in Disney's Fantasia, seems to me far superior to Rimsky Korsakov's and (un-PC though it is to say it) even to Mussorgksy's own. Serebrier rightly brings out the OTT string glissandi and biting brass. The Symphonic Synthesis of Boris is a cousin to the similar syntheses Stokowski made from Tristan and Parsifal and, like them, provides a rewarding distillation of the opera's music in purely orchestral garb. Here, Stoky seems to stay closer to Mussorgsky's original sound than Rimsky or Shostakovich. The disc ends with a trio of Beechamesque lollipops, all predictably gorgeous, especially Stokowski's own Traditional Slavic Christmas Music where his youthful experience as an organist seems to come through in the tiered orchestration.

Maybe this disc will not tax the listener's intellect overmuch, but it will provide him with enormous dollops of orchestral pleasure. And at a budget price.

Not much Stokowski there........2005-12-28

Compare to Stokowski's own interpretation, I just wonder how Serebrier change these intense transcriptions into dull, flat, and boring experience. His speed is so mechanical, and wash a lot of drama out of the work. If you don't want to be Stokowski, fine, but remember this is Mussorgsky, not Bach-Stokowski.

Although no one can be like Stokowski himself, Bamert still trying hard to sound like Stokowski in these transcriptions. Serebrier, on the other hand, trying to offer his own view. Pitifully, he falls far behind Stokowski.

One good thing about this recording is its wonderful sound. Rozhdestvensky did show us how harsh sound can ruin Stokowski's Pictures at an Exhibition. The good sound quality here makes the Pictures at an Exhibition still a valuable viewpoint. Ironically , it is the superb recording reveal how flat the interpretaions of Boris Godunov, A Night on Bare Mountain, and Entr'acte to ActIV of Khovanshchina are.

If you don't have Stokowski's own interpretion on your collection, I would like to stop you from buying this recording because of lack of the Stoki's excitement here. If you looking for a Stoki-like modern recording of Mussorgsky-Stokowski, I would recommend Bamert on Chandos over this. However, if you already have Stoki's own interpretion, Serebrier can still offer a different viewpoint of these transcriptions.

Some additional information..
A similiar viewpoint of Stokowski's Mussorgsky can also be found in Oliver Knussen's interpretation. The DG issue with a better orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and probabily better sound effect, too. The sound there is more tense.

A Naxos Triumph!.......2005-10-25

For half the price of at least two competing labels that I know of, you can have this recording of Stokowski's most beloved transciptions. I bought this release mainly for the "Symphonic Synthesis" which Stokowski created to bring more popularity to the massive complete opera. You get 24 minutes of shimmering sound, competing with anything in the symphonic genre. In fact everything sounds great on this disc. Meastro Serebrier,(a protege and life long friend of Stokowski) the Bournemouth Symphony, and the engineers are all in top form and dedicated. It is interesting to compare the differences of the Stokowski arrangements. He comes off more horrific than Rimsky-Korsakov on "Night on Bare Mountain", just have a listen to those exagerated screeches of brass. In "Pictures" Stokowski in his own words stated he wanted to take Ravels French out of the work and give it a more Russian feel. Balance, tempo, and detail in specific passages of each picture may or may not achieve this. I do think his version is more spacious overall, and less congested in the concluding "Great Gate of Kiev". Stokowski eliminates two annoying pictures stating he didn't think the composer wrote them in the score anyway! Recall that Rimsky-Korsakov's original piano version included them. Were they genuine? Three miniature bonus works are included. Most interesting is the Stokowski composition "Tradional Slavic Christmas Music" based on Slavic themes, is brief leaving one wanting for more.

Leopold, Leopold, Leopold.......2005-10-20

One of my favorite episodes of BUGS BUNNY (perhaps my only favorite, I was never a big LOONEY TOONS fan) has Bugs getting in trouble while singing the song "April Showers" in the presence of an opera star. The man finds the rabbit annoying, and Bugs being Bugs decides to get the best of him. On an evening when the buffoon is singing, Bugs dons a wig that resembles the hair style of a great conductor, a caricature of Leopold Stokowski. As soon as Bugs enters the area everyone is all a buzz because Leopold has arrived. Bugs grabs the baton and begins conducting. I was probably twelve or thirteen at the time, and I felt rather sophisticated because I knew who Leopold was other than one of the husbands of Gloria Vanderbilt.

Stokowski was one of the most famous conductors of his day, and he was a well known musical arranger as well. His day was a time when symphony orchestras had regular arrangers who transcribed famous keyboard pieces for orchestra. They somewhat fell out of fashion in the 1970's but today there seems to be a renewed interest in some of transcriptions, recognizing the contributions of the musical arrangers. This release by Naxos has some of Stokowski's arrangements of some of Mussorgsky's music as well as a few pieces by Tchaikovsky and an arrangement of Slavic Christmas music.

Overall, this is an interesting disc. The arrangement of "Night on Bald Mountain" is not as fulsome as the more familiar Rimsky-Korsakov orchestration, but the differences in the two do illustrate the interesting tidbits on the score. The same can be said for his orchestration of "Pictures at an Exhibition." The Ravel orchestration, today's performance standard, has more power, and perhaps because of its familiarity more of an appeal, but some of Stokowski's arrangements have a smoother sound which seems to be in keeping with an art gallery exhibit. His orchestral arrangement of music from BORIS GODUNOV plays like a symphonic poem and does capture the mood of the work.

Listeners will find this recording both interesting, enjoyable, and since the "Bald Mountain" arrangement is the same as the arrangement used in FANTASIA, perhaps a bit nostalgic. It will also give people a new appreciation of Mussorgsky as a composer. Maybe Naxos can release another Stokowski transcription disc with his arrangements of Bach's music.

Extraordinary recording by the Bournemouth Symphony and José Serebrier.......2005-08-28

This is one of the most extraordinary recordings of the decade, as announced by Felipe Marsans in his review in Diario Las Americas. The sound of this demonstration recording is spectacular! The performances are extraordinary, inspired,
magnificent from the opening track (Night on Bold Mountain) to the unexpected final track: an "original" work by Leopold Stokowski, based on a known ancient Christmas tune. The little Tchaikovsky item is something to make the listener cry, as is the Entre'Acte from Mussorgsky's opera Khovantchina. The Boris
is a masterpiece, and the performance is incredible in every sense. The Stokowski orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition, quite different from Ravel's and more Russian and tru to the original, will blow you off the room. I can't wait for the multy-channel versions to be released, on SACD and DVD Audio.
Extraordinary!
Stephen Bradbury
Oxford, UK

Average customer rating:

A Mussorgsky feast beyond praise
A STRONG REBUTTLE to the "bad" reviews.
Review for Richter's "Pictures" Only
A bad whooping cough in 1958 in Sofia, Bulgaria
Giant performance!

Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Panorama: Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov
Panorama: Johann Strauss
Panorama: Sergey Prokofiev
Panorama
Brahms: The Complete Symphonies / Karajan, Berlin PO

ASIN: B00004W3IV
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Old Castle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Unhatched Chicks
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Market At Limoges
Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombs: The Roman Tomb
Pictures At An Exhibition: With The Dead In A Dead Language
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut On Chicken's Legs
Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev
Night On Bald Mountain
Songs And Dances Of Death: 1. Lullaby
Songs And Dances Of Death: 2. Serenade
Songs And Dances Of Death: 3. Trepak
Songs And Dances Of Death: 4. The Field Marshal
Khovanshchina - Highlights: Prelude: Dawn Over The River Moscow
Khovanshchina - Highlights: Dances Of The Persian Slave Girls

Tracks:

Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Gnomus
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Il vecchio castello - Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Tuileries
Pictures At An Exhibition: Bydlo
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet des petits poussins dans leurs coques
Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle
Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
Pictures At An Exhibition: Limoges: Le Marche
Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombae: Sepulchrum Romanum - Cum mortuis in lingua mortua
Pictures At An Exhibition: La Cabane sur des pattes de poule
Pictures At An Exhibition: La Grande Porte de Kiev
6 Songs: Lullaby
6 Songs: The Magpie
6 Songs: Night
6 Songs: Where Art Thou, Little Star?
6 Songs: The Ragamuffin
6 Songs: On The Dnieper
Boris Godunov - Highlights: Shuisky: 'Long Live Our Tsar Boris Feodorovich!' (Prologue)
Boris Godunov - Highlights: Boris Godunov: 'My Soul Is Sad! (Prologue)
Boris Godunov - Highlights: Boris Godunov: 'I Stand Supreme In Power'
Boris Godunov - Highlights: Boris Godunov: 'Farewell, My Son, I Am Dying'
Boris Godunov - Highlights: Boris Godunov: 'Hark! 'Tis The Knell Of Death!'

Customer Reviews:

A Mussorgsky feast beyond praise.......2006-06-11

It was incredibly generous of DG to throw toegther these great performances--one of them legenday--in a bargain two-fer. The legendary performance, of course, is Richter's 1958 Pictures at an Exhibition performed in concert. The rights are owned by Philips, but I don't know if their latest remastering has been used here. The complaints about dreadful sonics are justified: the piano is far away and tinny, the Sofia audience coughs continuously--some of them are lucky to have left with their lungs intact--and there is a noisy exhaust fan in the foreground. It's a testimony to Richter's incandescent reading that it survives beyond all obstacles.

Another high point is the orchestral reading of Pictures under Giulini with the CSO. This was a famous recording in its day, because Giulini took the thrice-familiar music seriously, a bit slower than usual, adding many individual touches. Maybe his approach becomes ponderous and too serious at times, but it's one of a kind, and the solo winds in the orchestra are a delight.

Actually, I was most moved by Vishnievskaya's selection of songs, recorded in the Soviet Union with Igor Markevitch adding his superlative accompaniments--this is Mussorgsky singing of the highest order. But so is Fassbaender's Songs and Dances of Death, despite her lack of Slavic authenticity. Maazel bombs through Night on Bald Mountain with suitable thrills.

In all, this Panorama two-fer can't be faulted. It's one of the very best in the seeries, and several of the choicest things on it are otherwise out of print.

A STRONG REBUTTLE to the "bad" reviews........2006-05-19

155 minutes of music and one reviewer gives these CDs 1 star for couging here and there during 7 minutes of Richter's Pictures recital. Not continually mind you. I DON'T GET IT!
A reviewer doesn't like vocal music..so 2 stars. I DON'T GET IT! Just because one does not like "classical" vocals, doesn't mean they stink.
This is over 2 1/2 hours at single CD budget price. Geez...
Giulini gives a superbly recorded THRILLING performance of Pictures that, in my humble opinion, is second only to Reiner's. Also with the CSO 15 years earlier.
This 34+ minutes alone is worth the price of this collection.
The excerpts from Boris Gudonov are considered one of the best performances in the catalog (Karajan/VPO). 29 minutes and a good way to determine if you want to purchase the complete opera 3 CD set for over $30+ bucks.
Markevich/Vishnevskaya is considered to be the definitive version for the "6 songs".
The Kovanshchina prelude (Dawn on The Moskva River) is one the most heart rending themes in the canon. Simply gorgeous 6 minute piece of music.
I could go on and on.
Sure there are a few "gaffs" on these CDs. Maazel brings in Bald Mountain in under 10 minutes. Whew!
But hey...kudos to the orchestra for being able to play that well, that fast without stumbling over each other. Quite exhilerating acually.
And Then there is Richter's famous/"infamous" Pictures. Yes the annoying cough and a not so sonic recording. But anyone looking for just this track should already have been aware of this problem. "Classisists" have been talking about this problem for 50+ years. Obviously it can't be fixed. But still several coughs in 30+ minutes just makes it sound as live a performance as it is.
So let's recap...155 minutes of music with maybe parts of 15 minutes of minor problems for DISCOUNT bucks. Pretty good math I'd say. Equals 5 STARS where I come from.
Overall, this is an excellent CD for those who want Mussorgsky's major orchestral output in one package at a bargain price.
Top conductors, top orchestras, great performances and, except for Richter's Pictures, GREAT SONICS.
If you want a truly magnificent solo piano Pictures try Pletnev's on Virgin Classics. It will blow you away. And you get the bonus of his own piano transcription of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty which is even better.
ENJOY!

Review for Richter's "Pictures" Only.......2006-04-24

I was thrilled to find that Deutsche Grammophon has reissued Sviatoslav Richter's famous Sophia performance of "Pictures." I have owned it on tape, but have until now not had it on CD. I was surprised by previous reviews of this edition, since I thought that the explosive coughing had been toned down substantially. My tape broke years ago, so maybe my memory is off. But the re-engineering of this performace has been one of the most needed "retrofits" in the entire classical catalogue. The sound quality of this edition is certainly much better than the old Polydor record.

I also will refrain from entering the "Is it the greatest Pictures ever?"-debate. It is my favorite. One sometimes hears critics dismiss the piano--thus Mussorgsky's--version as monochromatic. But Richter presents a much more percussive version than most others, which may be why some people don't care for it. (My dad played this piece with a more Romantic reading.) It's a matter of taste: I have never cared for the Ravel version, probably because the percussive aspect doesn't translate into orchestration.

I almost never write music reviews, since I'd hate to convince people to plunk down good money on a CD that conforms to my taste but not theirs. BUT, if you have enjoyed this performace in the past . . .

I give five stars to Richter recital, which amazes me still. I agree that his deliberate "clunkers" are distracting. But having listened to this performance for almost twenty years, it is the "correct" playing of Pictures that now jars me. If you love this performance, as I clearly do, you'll be happy to have this CD. Just don't Google the Hartmann pictures which inspired Mussorgsky. It's disillusioning, but they aren't very good!

A bad whooping cough in 1958 in Sofia, Bulgaria.......2006-04-17

I was listening to the magnificient percussion and
overall sound of this double release, from 2000, #469 169-2,
when throughout the 1st CD, which opens up with the Mussorgsky
number PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION, there's an irritating
musician in the room, exhibiting signs of a bad whooping cough,
thereby totally destroying the 20 minutes or so recording!

There are many soft passages throughout the number, and
it is just incredible that DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON allowed the
bad caugh distractions and irritations (cough! cough! cough!)
to stay on the tape!

Unbelievable! It's so bad, I thought about unloading this
art work, at a second hand music store for a buck and a half,
although I surely paid more than $20 for this double CD release
a few years ago.

I don't care much for the vocal pieces, either.

Aside from that, the remainder of the release is very strong,
so ...I can't bring myself to unload it....yet, anyway.

Giant performance!.......2005-06-03

Carlo Maria Giulini has been to my mind one of the most aristocratic, intelligent, wisdom and remarkable conductors in the last Century. Born in 1914, Giulini owns that special touch of genius that has been proved in several ocassions.
There are several works in the Symphonic repertoire whose meaning depends in last instance of your personal world's approach. The list wold be extremely long but briefly I would name five classic works: The Eroica, The First of Mahler, The Ninth of Bruckner, The fourth of Nielsen and this work.
What do you demand from this work? Fireworks, nostalgic approach, musical musculature,effectism or tonal poolish?
Besides a great amount of recorded versions, there is however, a relatively small number of succesful performances from the early forties with Arturo Toscanini, Guido Cantelli and Igor Markevitch in the fifties, Dorati in the sixties and then Markevitch again and Giulini in the seventies.
Giulini gives this work a remarkable stature, enriching the score with sumptuous details and rubatos, smart accents, inflexions, color sense and above all a noblesse spirit that personally I haven't listened in any other previous version.
Go for this golden treasure recording. But do not expect great fireworks exercises. Giulini never searched the gallery' s applause. He was a honest and original master by himself: his personal landmark.

Moussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on the Bare Mountain [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

not as good as it should be
Good SACD surround - but too much from the rears?
Another good Gergiev Release

Moussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on the Bare Mountain [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000089CG9
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Customer Reviews:

not as good as it should be.......2004-12-24

while the SACD sound is very good and 'Pictures' sounds very lively, the other recordings on this disc sound bad. even with the SACD sound, it is as though the orchestra is playing in a room down the hall from the recording devices. now, just because the sound is good on 'Pictures' doesn't mean it is a good recording. the Reiner recording with the CSO is so much better than this, it makes me wonder why anyone would produce a recording if it could not compete with the Reiner/CSO recording. i never get the feeling while listening to this new recording that the orchestra is really into the music. it almost sounds rush an unrehearsed. perhaps i am just biased, but i would rather listen to the older Reiner recording than this newer one.

Good SACD surround - but too much from the rears?.......2004-04-17

I have enjoyed this hybrid SACD very much - but I feel it has one slight flaw which prevents it from being top notch.

The stereo SACD layer is as usual a slight improvement over the normal stereo CD layer - but the surround layer really opens out the sound giving much more presence and detail.

But I was always aware of the rear speaker channels, e.g. in Bydlo from the Pictures - whereas in the finest SACDs I have heard, like Uchida's Schubert Sonata D568 and Harnoncourt's Bruckner 9, the rears were brilliantly (but subtlely) used to give a real concert-hall feel - here you feel there are VPO musicians playing behind you a bit, which isn't really realistic in my opinion.

Perhaps it's significant that despite the DSD logo on the cover, this is a PCM 24 bit recording, while the very best SACDs use pure DSD.

But don't let me put you off, this is a very vivid and enjoyable SACD.

Another good Gergiev Release.......2003-10-10

This is the Hybrid SACD version of Valery Gergiev's recording of

Mussorgski's "Pictures at an Exhibition". Recorded with the

Vienna Philharmonic, instead of the Kirov Orchestra. The

performance is good, a little bit better than most, but then it

is hard to make too many mistakes with the Ravel orchestration.

All that is required is a good conductor and a good orchestra.

Gergiev and the VPO deliver good solid performances, and Phillips

delivers good sound as usual. I am only basing this on hearing

the CD portion of the disc, as I do not yet own a SACD player.