Search - Alexander Borodin, Mikhail Glinka, Dmitry Kabalevsky :: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

A Desert Island Recording...

Henry Mautner | Ludlow, KY, USA | 09/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one recording that lives up to its hype. On the podium, Fritz Reiner brings all of his storied strengths - an extraordinary sense of architecture, an outstanding ear for color, and an unparalleled (did someone say "sadistic"?) degree of discipline - to create the most beautifully conceived "Pictures" recorded in the 20th century.



But that's not all - in fact, that's not the half of it. The Chicago Symphony is superhuman in this recording, from the phenomonal opening solo trumpet passage of Adolph Herseth (in the first of his FIVE decades with the CSO) to the spectacular "Bydlo" of Arnold Jacobs on tuba, to the stupefying wall of sound in the final "Great Gate of Kiev" - well, the fact is that almost every orchestral player I know, on ANY instrument, refers to this recording as the gold standard for their own.



And the SOUND!... This was one of the first of the legendary RCA "Living Stereo" recordings (1957), and modern engineers could and should learn a lot about how to record an orchestra from these geniuses of the Eisenhower era. Another reviewer mentioned his disappointment in the "Catacombs" movement, and it's true - there are more sonically cogent recent performances (the Montreal Symphony under Charles Dutoit in a great recording comes to mind). But I would trade however many of those it would take to keep my SINGLE copy of this true wonder.



And there are additional treasures. "Pictures" was released on its own in LP form - it is joined here by CSO/Reiner recordings from 1959, including the best-played recording ever made of the "Colas Breugnon Overture," a spectacular "Russlan and Ludmilla," a very fine "Night on Bare Mountain" and "Marche Slav," and other "minor" Russian pieces.



All in all, this is one of the great recordings of the stereo era at a bargain price - snap it up and enjoy!"

GREAT Reiner/Chicago performances & RCA Living Stereo sound!

Henry Mautner | 04/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Reiner had the uncanny ability to excel in virtually every orchestral piece he ever committed to any ensemble, either in concert or on a recording. This CD, a combination of two early RCA Living Stereo LPs, had "Pictures" on its own apart from the other pieces that fill it out, under the name of "A Festival of Russian Music." In addition to impeccable playing, the Chicago Symphony sounds as great as it ever has in these pieces. In "Pictures," notable is the powerful orchestral buildup in "Bydlo," and the great woodwind playing in "Ballet of the Chicks in their Shells." The reknown Chicago brass are not to be ignored in "Great Gate of Kiev." The other pieces are notable for a house-shaking bass drum in "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Marche Slave".In short, another installment in the phenomenal output of Reiner and Chicago."

Go Reiner!

Dick K | 07/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Reiner/CSO recordings are some of the greatest of all time, and this one follows suit. He was a tyrant, but there's no doubt he got every last ounce of playing out of the Chicago Symphony. The rhythmic accuracy and sense of control is uncanny throughout, with impeccable playing from the brass section."