Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

The Bach/Busoni is excellent. I really like Busoni's transcription, perhaps even more so than the one he did of Chaconne. This transcription was made to order for Kissin's sonorous side.

To understate matters greatly, the third movement presents slight technical difficulties for all those who find playing arpeggios in octaves frightening. Fortunately for us, Kissin does not find such feats difficult, and the result is spectacular. At 2'30 this piece really takes flight, and almost makes the disc.

But I think I'm now overstating matters, since the Mussorgsky recording is one of the best around. If you liked Richter's aggressive account, you'll like this one. For the most part, their interpretations converge. I liked Richter's Limoges marche better for its absolutely heart pounding crescendo near the end; Kissin's leads to an adrenaline rush but stops short of causing palpitations. The market surely came alive for me in Richter's recording, although one might protest that Richter's cresendo made it seem like the market had exploded - that's not necessarily a bad thing, however.

Kissin's Baba-Yaga (track 19) may be definitive. Unfortunately it's so good that it might even overshadow the ending, but that criticism isn't necessarily an apt one here. Although not absolute music - since it's trying to capture the mood of Hartman's works - it's still impressionist, and as such not overly formulaic. There's no reason you need a barn storming ending. As it stands the ending is grand, just slightly adumbrated because of Kissin's Baba-Yaga performance.

The Lark is beautiful and provides a nice transition. The piece is a transcription of a song written by Glinka. Glinka's Lark, in the song, wishes sweetly that when she's gone someone will remember her and sigh. If he keeps giving the world recording such as this one, the Lark's wish will surely come to fruition for Kissin.

Pletnev also gives us his remarkable piano transcription of Sleeping Beauty, which is a much more suitable companion to Pictures than Bach.

By the way, the Pletnev disc is titled "Russian Piano Music." Not very inventive or descriptive!