Pictures at an Exhibition
Stephen Savage’s first Move release pairs Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition with Liszt’s Two Legends and three Debussy piano works, including the less often heard Masques and … d’un cahier d’esquisses … beside L’isle joyeuse.
Critical acclaim had welcomed Savage’s earlier recording of Beethoven’s final three piano sonatas. Here the distinguished Australian pianist turns to music inspired by pictures: Mussorgsky’s gallery walk through Hartmann’s memorial exhibition, Liszt’s radiant religious legends, and Debussy’s luminous piano writing.
The sessions took place in the Theatre of the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, in Brisbane. Care was taken to secure a colourful, atmospheric sound and the full tonal weight of these brilliant works. In his liner notes Savage likens the process to hanging and lighting pictures in a gallery and finding the best place to view them. The result is a recording of unusual depth and beauty of sound.
Reviews
Right from the moment Mussorgsky’s spectacular strides purposefully into the art gallery we are hearing the music with fresh ears. . . At every turn there are surprises and Savage achieves them not with wild exaggeration, but by playing movements just a little faster, slower or straighter than usual, and finding a chord to delay here and a phrase to pull back there. His Liszt is good, too, and his Debussy better still.
Savage’s reading stays true to the original as he revels in Mussorgsky’s idiomatic and idiosyncratic piano writing ... Savage outlines the first two pieces with elegant clarity and a sparkling purpose and L’isle Joyeuse is eloquently spirited.
Stephen Savage confirms his reputation as an authoritative, even magisterial interpreter, bringing characteristic luminosity and uncommon intelligence to works often glossified as showpieces for digital pyrotechnics. Keyboard aficionados will relish the splashy splendour of the two St Francis Legends by Liszt and the uncommon muscularity of three Debussy pieces. The glorious acoustic of the Conservatorium Theatre and Savage’s insightful notes in the accompanying booklet place this CD on the top of the pack
Artists
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period, celebrated for a boldly national voice that stood apart from Western convention. His music turns repeatedly to Russian history, folklore and the vivid colour of everyday speech.
Stephen Savage
Stephen Savage has been associated with the teaching programmes of the Australian National Academy since its inception, and performs and teaches overseas frequently and extensively, travelling particularly to the UK and to many places in Asia.
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt (1811–1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic era. His vast output reshaped piano technique, invented the symphonic poem and pushed harmony toward the twentieth century.
Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy (1862–1918) was a French composer whose harmony, colour and flexible sense of key reshaped European music at the turn of the twentieth century. Piano, orchestral and chamber works from his maturity remain central to the repertoire.
Audio previews
Tracks
- Promenade 1:24
- Gnomus (The Gnome) 2:37
- Promenade :50
- Il vecchio castello (The old castle) 4:28
- Promenade :29
- Tuileries (Children’s quarrelling at play) 1:08
- Bydlo 2:55
- Promenade :39
- Ballet of the unhatched chicks 1:05
- Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle 2:02
- Promenade 1:19
- Limoges (The market place) 1:31
- Catacombs (A Roman Sepulchre) 1:29
- Con mortuis in lingua mortua 1:39
- The hut on hen’s legs (Baba Yaga) 3:33
- The Great Gate of Kiev 5:33
- St Francis of Assisi preaching to the birds 10:08
- St Francis of Paola walking on the water 9:19
- Masques Claude Debussy 5:27
- … d’un cahier d’esquisses … Claude Debussy 4:30
- L’isle joyeuse Claude Debussy 5:54
Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky
Two Legends Franz Liszt
Performers
Contributors
Piano technician
Michael Ryan
Where to listen
Pictures at an Exhibition is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Pictures at an Exhibition is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3290
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 67 minutes 59 seconds
- Producer
- Stephen Savage
- Recording Engineer
- David Spearritt
David Starr - Editing Engineer
- David Spearritt
- Mastering Engineer
- David Spearritt
- Venue
- Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University
- Credit
- Michael Ryan
- Release date
- 2004
- Musical work
copyright - © 2004 Stephen Savage
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2004 Stephen Savage
- Categories
- Classical, Keyboard
- Genre
- Romantic & Impressionist
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574329025
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