Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky

Modest Mussorgsky (Composer), Carlo Maria Giulini (Conductor), Lorin Maazel (Conductor), Neeme Järvi (Conductor), Mikhail Pletnev (Conductor), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), Igor Markevitch (Conductor), Herbert von Karajan (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Sviatoslav Richter (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sviatoslav Richter
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini, Lorin Maazel, Neeme Järvi, Mikhail Pletnev, Claudio Abbado, et al.
• Composer: Modest Mussorgsky
• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00004W3IV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,158 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A STRONG REBUTTLE to the "bad" reviews., May 18, 2006

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bonerfly "ear candy" (NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky (Audio CD)

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 or the out of print Anthony Goldstone CD if you can find it.

ENJOY!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Giant performance!, June 2, 2005

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Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky (Audio CD)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars A sure thing, February 8, 2008

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S. Prosser (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky (Audio CD)

I bought this CD mainly for the orchestral version of Pictures. I actually already had a recording of Richter's performance of the original piano version (which is also part of this set), but that wasn't a problem for me. I definately got my money's worth on this one, and I'd highly recommend it. All the performances are first-rate and the set gives you a good variety of Moussorgsky's music, including his most popular pieces. And the price is definately right.