Slatkin, Leonard - St Louis Symphony Orchestra - Mussorgsky/Borodin
"Pictures At An Exhibition, Night On A Bald Mountain, Khovanschina, In The Steppes Of Central Asia"
"In Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition," Slatkin takes special care with presenting the music's vivid & vibrantly coloured characterisations - by the orchestras alert and highly polished playing, by cultivating a certain rawness in the brass and a silky quality in the woodwinds. Along with letting the percussion play full out, Slatkin makes Ravel's orchestration sound more Russian than it usually does. Best of all is the Great Gate Of Kiev, where Slatkin generates a ceremonial splendour worthy of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov.
The remaining items include a colourful and truly menacing rendition of "Night On A Bald Mountain" (David Hurvitz's top choice for this piece - prominent tam tam!) A colourful and energetic performance but orchestral balance is maintained (unlike many versions). One of the best performances of this work out there by anybody. Three excerpts from "Khovanschina". Borodin's "In the Steppes Of central Asia," concludes the program with understated elegance and poetry.
Adapted from the review by Victor Carr Jr (Classics Today)
1. Pictures at an Exhibition
2. Night on a Bald Mountain
3. Khovanschina
1. Prelude
2. Entr'Acte
3. Dance of the Persian Slaves
2. Entr'Acte
3. Dance of the Persian Slaves
4. In the Steppes Of Central Asia
Vox 7208 (1975)
Digital Download (flac)