Which mussorgsky pictures at an exhibition?

You have some options.

Recently I purchased a SACD of Mussorgsky's Pitures at an Exhibition and Night on a Bald Mountain etc by BMG.

This title was originally issued by RCA and performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fritz Reiner.

Reiner/RCA Living Stereo
Yes by all means get this has stood the test of time and can hold it's own against any modern version. Not only do you get "night" but several other excellent Russian show pieces.......this is a no brainer at reduced price hybrid edition.

I have 9-10 versions now and have heard that many more but did not keep them, here are my other recommended versions:

Muti/EMI Classics
Jansons/EMI Classics
Kaspszyk/Collins (best version of "night")
Karajan/DG Originals (Karajan surprises me here)
Kuchar/Naxos
Szell/Sony
Gergiev/Phillips
Sinopoli/DG
Solti/London (Solti should do better for this show piece)

Most over rated version:
Maazel/Telarc (sorry Telarc fans this does not cut it)

Most underrated version:
Dutoit/London (I will put this up against any version.....it is really that good)

Some of the better ones...


Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
This was one of the recordings that put Telarc on the musical map, and first revealed the potential of digital recording technology to millions of music lovers and stereo buffs. It's still one of the very finest recordings of "Pictures" around, both as sound and performance. Lorin Maazel maintained the high standards of execution that George Szell inculcated during his quarter century in Cleveland, and for sheer hair-trigger precision, the playing is simply unbeatable. In addition, Telarc captured the performance in what was then and remains demonstration-quality sound, with the famous bass drum thwacks putting a practically subsonic foundation on the whole enterprise. Still a classic. --David Hurwitz


Reviewer: Hilary Ann Cable (Altadena, CA USA)
Eiji Oue conducts this compilation of turn-of-the-century pre-modernist meditations with superb diction and clarity. He is a truly gifted conductor and gets more out of the Minnesota Orchestra than I ever imagined possible. Cut 23, "The Great Gate at Kiev," is simply magnificent. Mussorgsky captures the essence of standing in front of a work of art-the sense of being awed, then puzzled, then enlightened-and Oue follows his lead by capturing the essence of a world poised to leap into a new century: The fear, the magic, and the optimism. It's lush and absolutely gorgeous.



Reviewer: "kek5" (Westerville, Ohio USA)
BBC Music rates this CD as one of the "Top 1000", yet the Penquin Guide considers it worthy of only one "Star" (undistinquished at best). The gulf is probably best explained by the fact that this a very straightforward, unaffected version of the piece. If you prefer grand gestures in your romantic piano playing, you will do well to steer towards Horowitz or Pletnev. If you prefer more composer and less performer, Jando's version will suit you fine, as it has me. The recorded sound is good, rather than outstanding. All in all, a fine bargain from the Naxos label.

I have and love the Muti/Philadelphia from EMI. It does not contain "night on bald mountain" but as a bonus you will find one of the best Stravinsky "Rite of Spring" on record. And BTW this CD has an impressive dynamic range (brass ff are almost too loud to bear if you set the volume to hear the details during the pianissimo). Quite useful to test your gear...

Some good suggestions, but that's assuming we're talking about Ravel's transcription for orchestra?
For something completely different, check out Jean Guillou's version performed on the 68 stop organ of the Tonhalle Zürich. Fantastic. The 32' stops aren't exactly headphone material, though

Alfred Brendel on the piano (Philips). It is also available on an inexpensive dual-CD set with André Previn performing Ravel's orchestration of the work.

Sorry... gotta go with Emerson, Lake & Palmer or Tomita on this one.

ahhh u beat me too it

I'll have to dig out my Mexican pressing of this ELP classic.

@DarkAngel, Thank you for the Fritz Reiner recommendation.  There's some audible noise in the recording but it's such a passionate recording.  Love it.

I like Reiner, but I have to admit my favoriteis Stokowski. He had his own arrangements of Pictures and Bald Mountain that were dynamite and 100% him, just like his Bach arrangements.