Stokowski's Mussorgsky
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Composer: Modest MussorgskyComposer: Leopold Stokowski
Conductor: Matthias Bamert
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1996-06-18
Music Label: Chandos
Soundtracks:
- A Night on Bald Mountain - Allegro
- Boris Godunov: Symphonic Synthesis: Outside The Novodievichi Monastery
- Boris Godunov: Symphonic Synthesis: Coronation Of Boris
- Boris Godunov: Symphonic Synthesis: Monks Chanting In The Monastery Of Choudov
- Boris Godunov: Symphonic Synthesis: Siege Of Kazan
- Boris Godunov: Symphonic Synthesis: Outside The Church Of St. Basil
- Boris Godunov: Symphonic Synthesis: Death Of Boris
- Entr'acte To Act IV Of Khovanshchina - Sostenuto Assai
- 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: Bydlo
- Pictures At An Exhibition: Promenade
- Pictures At An Exhibition: Ballet Of The Chickens In Their Shells
- Pictures At An Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg And Schmuyle
- Pictures At An Exhibition: Catacombs
- Pictures At An Exhibition: Con Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
- Pictures At An Exhibition: The Hut On Fowl's Legs (Baba Yaga)
- Pictures At An Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev
Music reviews of Stokowski's Mussorgsky
Music Review: Probably the best recording of "Night on Bald Mountain," interesting "Pictures"
Rating: 5 Stars
I've only seriously listened to "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Pictures" on this disc, so I won't comment on the other works. But those two are outstanding.
"Night On Bald Mountain" is usually heard in the form arranged by Rimsky-Korsakov. There are some exciting recordings of that version out there, but most miss the mark. Rimsky-Korsakov is known for his colorful, pristine orchestrations (he taught Stravinsky orchestration) - as a consequence many conductors work too hard to present a delicate palette of colors in this piece, and it comes across a bit like a refined late-Romantic work, similar to Brahms in a really dark mood. Even with the Rimsky-Korsakov version, this is not the correct approach. This piece was meant to be unsettling, vulgar and frightening, which is especially apparent in Mussorgsky's own early version, with its male chorus evoking images of a Satanic ritual. Because of this I view Stokowski's orchestration as the definitive version of the piece, while not discounting the many merits of Rimsky-Korsakov's. Stokowski fleshes out the effects that Rimsky only hinted at. Instead of polite, symphonic glissandos in the violins, Stokowski gives us chillingly wispy string effects that sound like a ghost's sigh. Muted brass give vulgar, mocking tones. The central low-brass fanfare is beefed-up compared to Rimsky's version, and Bamert and the BBC Orchestra pull out all the stops - it's a terrifying bellow from the trombones, as if hell is erupting from the earth. Slower interludes are slinky and sensual, while the coda is mournful and finally angelic as peace is restored. The famous sequence from Disney's "Fantasia" used Stokowski's orchestration (as you'd expect, since he conducted the score) and his version easily conjures up images of dark mountain gods, demons and ghosts away from the film. This performance by Bamert and the BBC is wonderfully committed, not afraid to get obscene or sensual as appropriate, and consistently sends chills up my spine. Any fan of this work NEEDS to hear this recording.
Stokowski's "Pictures" is less essential, if only because Ravel's orchestration sounds so right and inevitable that it's hard to imagine anything better. Stokowski uses varied orchestration to achieve more obvious effects, as he does with "Bald Mountain," but unlike that piece "Pictures" does not mandate such efforts. As a result it's sometimes a little indulgent and larger-than-life; if Disney had made an animated Fantasia sequence out of "Pictures," Stokowski's version probably would have fit that medium better than Ravel's. That's the impression I get - Stokowski had a colorful narrative for the piece in his head that Ravel's stately concert-piece did not quite evoke. For those with Ravel permanently ingrained in their minds, this may seem like a mere curiosity and reinforce the brilliance of the most popular arrangement.
That being said, as wonderful as Ravel's version is, it has perhaps unfairly overshadowed some other unique, legitimate efforts such as Stokowski's. In that sense this is essential listening for any collector of "Pictures at an Exhibition." Again, Bamert and the BBC give a solid, committed performance that aptly illustrates Stokowski's vision - the best recording I've heard of his arrangement.
As a final note, the recording quality is excellent, as is usual for Chandos. This might not be an essential CD for a general classical library, but for any admirer of "Night on Bald Mountain" who wants to hear what it should REALLY sound like, or the curious "Pictures" listener, you won't regret picking this up.
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