Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Donald Macleod focuses on the year 1874, in which Mussorgsky produced probably his best-known work - Pictures at an Exhibition.

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Modest Mussorgsky.

He concentrates on the fruits of a single year, which was perhaps Mussorgsky's most productive - 1874. In the summer of this year he composed two vastly different works: Sunless, a hauntingly beautiful, but bleakly pessimistic song cycle, and Pictures at an Exhibition, which ranks amongst his most positive, affirmative music.

Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks (Pictures at an Exhibition) - arr for Moog synthesiser
Tomita (keyboard)
RCA PD89381 Tr 9

Sunless (1874)
Marjana Lipovsek (mezzo-soprano)
Graham Johnson (piano)
Sony SK 66 858 Trs 8-13

Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
Decca 425 045-2 Trs 1-6.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks (Pictures at an Exhibition) - arr for Moog synthesiser

    Performer: Tomita (keyboard)

    • RCA PD89381.
  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Sunless (1874)

    Performer: Marjana Lipovsek (mezzo-soprano) Performer: Graham Johnson (piano)

    • Sony SK 66 858.
  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Pictures at an Exhibition (1874)

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)

    • Decca 425 045-2.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 28 Oct 2009 12:00
  • Wed 28 Oct 2009 22:00

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.