Customer Reviews

Panorama: Modest Mussorgsky

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

These discs are actually very good. Besides Mussorgsky's famous "Pictures" and "Bald Mountain," the Overture to "Khovanschina" is featured, along with excerpts from "Boris Gudonov." Also, Mussorgsky's six songs, "Night," "The Ragamuffin," "Where Art Thou, Little Star," "The Magpie," and "On the Dneiper," are by turns playful and touching. One of the only problems I find with these recordings is Sviatslav Richter's performance of "Pictures" (The orchestral version is also featured.) Richter purposely makes mistakes and glitches in his playing so as not to appear a "conformist." Although his intentions are commendable, the glitches in the piece stand out. Also, the recording of Richter's version is rough, accompanied by fairly frequent coughs from the audience. However, it is easy to look past this, and the extraordinary aspects of these pieces can be appreciated.

The last couple of days I have been listening to Eugene Ormandy including his rendition of Pictures at an Exhibition. I thought it would be interesting to compare this recording to Fritz Reiner/CSO's recording. These are both excellent takes on one of the great orchestral standards. I then thought it would be interesting to compare Guilini's 1976 CSO pictures to the Reiner's CSO recording. The Giulini CSO sounds even better, the recording quality (both are ADD) is better with warmer richer sound in greater detail, and the interpretation of the music sent shivers up me timbers. Giulini's take is very majestic and he just about turned the final track (The Great Gate of Kiev) into a coronation anthem.

My problem with this Panorama is disc 2. The Sviatoslav Richter solo piano version of Pictures recorded live has too much audience noise. There must have been a half dozen smokers who could not keep their hacks in check and they spoil the recording big time! I have this recording on LP. It was over hyped back in 1958 including the album jacket that looks like something NASCAR would have put out and it has been over hyped ever since. This pictures was borrowed from the DECCA Philips wing and Decca has a more recent release that touts new remastering. I have heard the new remastered version thanks to Rhapsody. It still sounds like crapola.

Why did they not include a recording by a new star pianist on disc two like the great version by Evgeny Kissin? He can go toe to toe and come out ahead with just about any of the sentimental favorites from the days of very low fidelity. If you do buy this Panorama, just think of the pictures piano version as your obligatory historical recording that no true collector should be without and then go out and buy another recording that you will be able to enjoy like the Kissin rendition. Maybe the Giulini Pictures is available as a single. It certainly rescues this album.

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.

This 2 CD set (like the other DG Panorama sets) is simply wonderful. two top 'picture' performances are gathered here; Richter's and the CSO's. Richter's interpretation, in particular, is unreal, though the sound quality is a little on the rough side. Having said that, i must add that the rest of this set is wonderful - not a bad track to be found.

Oh yeah, the price isnt bad either! Get it! You won't regret it.

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.

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.