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|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
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 A Classic Treasure Mar 23, 2008
Conductor Fritz Reiner is unbelievably precise with the baton with just enough emotional fervor, energy, and commitment to rouse the phenomenal Chicago players of the late 1950's to one of the greatest compilations of a colorful Russian showcase. The Pictures is one of the finest I have ever heard and the Colas Breugnon and Borodin pieces are exceptionally delightful treats. The mastering is spectacular in all three specialized CD formats and the compatibility is extraordinary.
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 And what about the performance itself? Oct 17, 2007
Sorry for not being a sound engineer, but unlike previous reviewers I would like to talk about the performance only. This is one of the best played and recorded Pictures at an Exhibition, OK, but also one of the most uninvolving ever: what I hear here is mere virtuosity! Reiner conducts all the work in the same comfortable, perfect and uncommitted manner, and does not seem to realize at any time that these pictures, well, are supposed to depict something! These are not abstract paintings, yet Reiner goes through the whole of it like one who does not understand anything to art.
The other works are a totally different matter though, and that is why I would still recommend this CD - Mussorgsky's Night on the Bald Mountain in particular is one of the most terrifying ever, full of glaring lightning. The disc will also give you the opportunity to discover Kabalevsky's overture to Colas Breugnon (Toscanini also recorded it and it was part of his 1990s 72-volume edition on RCA - if you manage to find it...).
But as far as the Pictures are concerned, there are many other much more compelling performances which really make the pictures spring to life! It must be said that this work conveys so many different atmospheres that all conductors and pianists are convincing in some of them... and less inspired in other ones (one could write an article about which recording to recommend for every single picture!). Try Ormandy on RCA (his Gnomus is incredibly sinister and unsettling), Karajan's last recording with the BPO in the 80s (DG), who is very impressive throughout but particularly outstanding in Il Vecchio Castello, and from Catacombs to the Great Gate of Kiev (as imposing as Boris Godunov!), Muti on EMI... or Toscanini.
This Reiner CD is best to be recommended for its other-than-Pictures second half!
Desert Island Disc! Jun 19, 2007
This sacd is positively stunning. I am young. I was raised on gizmos, gadgets and hi-tech this and that...and for the life of me I can't understand how these engineers back in the 50's and 60's produced such astoundingly detailed recordings. With two or three mics for the hall and some tube equipment and wham...there you have it...a recording of impressively powerful pieces of music with enough separation and detail within the mix to keep the listener busy for hours and hours on end. That and the emotional wallop packed by this recording is second to none. Even if you have copies aplenty of Pictures, or Night on..., such as I do myself, please do not hesitate to pick up this recording as it is worth every dime. If you are looking for an interesting counterpoint to Reiner's reading of Pictures or Night pick of Jose Serebrier's recording on Naxos.
Great way to exercise Jun 13, 2007
Such great music. Exercise and listening
to this one is a great combination.
Time seems to fly by and before you know
it. Times up!
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Wow! Apr 02, 2007
How can something older than me sound so good? The recording is top notch. Dont be fooled into thinking it is "just stereo", the ambience of symphony hall comes thru as though it were recorded in surround. Exquisite detail and perfect tempo. Timpani has realistic impact. And all the other music with Pictures makes this a real bargain!
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![Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61RXXTY0SBL._SL160_.jpg "Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]")
