Mussorgsky - Pictures At An Exhibition - Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra

Mussourgsky has had the severe misfortune to be so successful with two of his works that the rest of his output is largely ignored. The 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and 'Night on a Bare Mountain' enjoy a cult following of almost boy-band proportions and are two of the most over-recorded pieces of all time, fine though they may be. There is actually rather a lot more to Mussourgsky, and it is about time that some of it enjoyed greater popularity. His style was, to a large extent, self developed, and thus he has a very quirky approach to harmony - kind of a Russian Berlioz. And in fact this is often very refreshing. His progressions do not always do ...  Read the complete review