Search - Modest Mussorgsky :: Moussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Two Thrilling Interpretations of Mussorgsky's "Pictures..."

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 08/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a splendid inexpensive Philips recording which unites two of the most thrilling interpretations I have heard of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition". Alfred Brendel offers some of his most probing, intense, and lyrical, playing in his brilliant performance of the original version of "Pictures At An Exhibition", which was composed as a work for solo piano by Mussorgsky. And Previn leads the Vienna Philharmonic in a spellbinding live performance of Ravel's orchestrated version of the Mussorgsky score. There is ample exuberant, lush playing from the strings and woodwinds. And the brass section's refined playing easily brings to mind the elegant sounds of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's brass section during Georg Solti's tenure as that orchestra's music director. This is yet another splendid recording made by Andre Previn with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra."