Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Night on Bald Mountain / Songs & Dances of Death (Bernstein Century)

Jennie Tourel (Artist), Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor, Performer), New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leonard Bernstein
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
• Audio CD (September 29, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000C29A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,793 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein is highly original and personal in Pictures, February 20, 2007

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Night on Bald Mountain / Songs & Dances of Death (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

Two things conspired to keep me from discovering this one-of-a-kind 'Pictures at an Exhibition' sooner. First, there are enough great recordings to go around from Reiner, Karajan, Stokowksi--name your own. Second, I assumed that Bernstien would conduct this thrice-familiar piece simply as a commercial duty. I was wrong: this is the most personal performance among the great ones. Bernstein has ideas and feelings in every section, and with the NY Phil. at its virtuosic best, the whole thing is an enchanting discovery.

Bernstein's secret is that he goes to the heart of the music rather than just conducting Ravel's brilliant orchestration. As a result, we feel we are looking at separate paintings on the wall, just as Mussorgsky intended, each with its own flavor, more often than not tinged with melancholy (after all, Mussorgsky's artist friend had died). Compared to this account, all the others I own seem a bit shallow and glittery--this one is pure soul.

The sound is impeccable in the current remastering, and we get two outstanding fillers. First, a thrilling Night on Bald Mountain that gives Stokowski's a run for its money while retaining more musical integrity. Second, Bernstein accompanies his great fried, mezzo Jennie Tourel, in four Songs and Dances of Death (in clean early Fifties mono). It's interesting to hear a non-Slavic voice in these pieces, and our two performers are so ebullient that they turn in one of the least grim versions on disc.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT! FANTASTIC!!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Night on Bald Mountain / Songs & Dances of Death (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

Just the Pictures on a Exhibition would have been worth it, but with the added Songs and Dances of Death, this CD is truly amazing. Get this CD.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best recording I could find..., March 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Night on Bald Mountain / Songs & Dances of Death (Bernstein Century) (Audio CD)

After going through 8 different recordings of this Pictures at an Exhibition, I concluded that this one is the best of the lot. All the others were somewhat (or extremely) lackluster. This one is much more alive. I recommend it!