Well, Leonard Slatkin strikes again. He has just recorded another of his pastiche "Pictures" (Mussorgsky), this time for Naxos, and brilliantly performed by the Nashville Symphony (they have a beautiful new concert hall). His first pastiche "Pix" is available in a big box from the St. Louis Symphony. This one has a totally different compilation of orchestraters for each of the pictures (and promenades). Unfortunately, for those who take their "Pictures" somewhat seriously, the program notes are a complete muddle. It's hard to understand just what versions of which movements - and at what particular moments - these unknown orchestrations are closer to the original keyboard version (and there seems to be some dispute on that point alone).
Anyway, it strikes me that there's a bit more interesting "ear candy" in this compilation than in Slatikin's earlier one. One unusual feature is that an additional promenade is added between the two Polish Jews, and Limoges (this particular promenade is orchestrated by Lawrence Leonard). Ashkenazy's fortissimo laden "Bydlo" strikes me as being far more convincing here than on his own recording for Decca. But believe me, nothing - but nothing! - could prepare you for what happens in this "Great Gate Of Kiev", orchestrated by the Australian film composer Douglas Gamley. In fact, it's called "The Bogatyr Gate At Kiev" here (is that the same thing?). I even feel sort of guilty mentioning this; so, if you don't want the ending given away, stop reading here!
After a brief introduction, Gamley's "Great Gate" rests into something that sounds like the Coronation scene from "Boris Godunov". Then we hear the chorale tune, but sung softly by a male chorus. They join in on the proceedings again later, but also sung softly. Of course, the program notes don't give us any kind of text or translations (it's in Russian, folks). Add in a few big organ pedals, big brass chorales, plenty of bells dinging here and there, and you'll get the idea. The form is also totally different than what you'll be used to as well. As if all this weren't enough, the ending has the biggest tam-tam smashes I've heard on a recording of "Pictures" in decades (and yes, they're placed just exactly where Ravel puts them, with the except of a big tam-tam roll on the final chord).
So, with no further adieu, here's a listing of those who contributed to Slatkan's "big fun" Pix . .
Promenade: Wilson Ochoa
Gnomus: Sergey Gorchakov
Promenade: Walter Goehr
The Old Castle: Emile Naoumoff
Promenade: Geert Van Keulen
Tuileries: Van Keulen, again
Bydlo: Vladimir Ashkenazy
Promenade: Carl Simpson
Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks: Lucien Cailliet
Two Polish Jews; one rich, one poor: Sir Henry Wood
Promenade: Lawrence Leonard (previously mentioned)
Limoges: Leon Funtek
Catacombs: John Boyd
Con Mortuis in Lingua Mortua: Ravel!
Baba Yaga (the hut on fowl's legs): Stokowski
The Bogatyr Gate at Kiev: Douglas Gamley
Still with me . . .
OK, even weirder, the "Pictures" is immediately followed by the most elaborated and Hollywood-like "Star Spangled Banner" imaginable; a post 9/11 tribute put together by Rob Mathes. Go figure! - was Slatkin trying to make a statement about today's Vladimir Putin influenced Russia? I don't know. Just as equally puzzling, the program begins with the Franz Liszt first piano concerto, performed by Peng Peng (not to be confused with Lang Lang).
Find a Pong Pong, and you could perform the first act of "Turandot with Lang Lang, Peng Peng, and Pong Pong.
Topic: A wacky but truly fun "Pictures" from Slatkin (Naxos) (Read 7488 times)