Search - Modest Mussorgsky, Alexander Scriabin, Neeme Järvi :: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy, Op. 54

Standard setting.

Sam Saunders | Ann Arbor, MI | 09/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is simply the gold standard for orhcestral brass performances. i checked this particular disc out from my school library, simply because it was the only copy of 'pictures' that was available. i have experienced many different versions -- new york, montreal, etc, but the chicago symphony orchestra's brass section demonstrates on this amazing recording why they are indeed the best in the world. the final charge of 'the great gate of kiev' is one of the finest moments ever pressed to compact disc. charlie vernon and gene pokorny lay down the foundation for what may be the best orchestral sound i have ever heard. if you have nay sort of admiration for awe-inspiring brass performance, or just like the feeling an amazing performance gives you, put this disc in the machine, turn it all the way up, and let herseth and the boys take you to another place."

Impressive, but with some surprises.

Music Is Everything | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 05/01/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pictures at an Exhibition is a tour de force for orchestra, requiring strong players in every chair, a well-paced interpretation from the conductor, a lot of excitement and a little good luck. This performance, for the most part, has it all. My only reservation is Chandos' recording process, which strikes me as somewhat bright and brittle. Nonetheless, this is the Chicago Symphony at highest voltage, with an especially good tuba solo in the Bydlo movement from Gene Pokorny.



Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy is, at its heart, a trumpet feature. Enter the legendary Chicago principal trumpeter Adolph Herseth and the result must be at least good, if not great. Herseth handles everything with ease and great energy. Once again, the recording process makes things sound overly bright, and this is also the period in Herseth's career when he was trying out a Monette trumpet that also sounded a little shrill to my ears. (He later went back to his Bach Stradivarius trumpet.) Nonetheless, this is a surprisingly good performance ... until the very end. For some odd reason, Herseth holds WAY over when the rest of the orchestra cuts off, reminiscent of Maynard Ferguson and creating an awkward closing to an otherwise good performance. Why Chandos allowed this to make it to the final cut I won't guess, but it does seem a bit tasteless.



So, in the balance, this is a very good recording and a must for Chicago Symphony fans, but I still find Solti's recording of Pictures (also with Chicago) to be the best of the best. Enjoy."

Solid recording, but not the CSO's best

Alex | 11/30/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pictures at an Exhibition is certainly a piece well suited to the CSO's strengths. I think this recording gets a little bit wild. Some of the brass playing gets raucous (even for the CSO)particularly at the end of Great Gate of Kiev. There are some release problems, etc. All in all, getting a chance to hear Adolph Herseth play these pieces is a treat, and I definately recommend this recording."