The multi-coloured plumage of Ravel's famous orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at popular than the solo piano original, but I've always preferred the raw drama and visceral impact of the latter.
For her new album Pictures, New Zealand pianist Somi Kim explores the rich complexity of piano sound. She also brings something new, pairing her insightful interpretation of Mussorgsky's original with Aotearoa Pictures, an 11-part suite from New Zealand composer Janet Jennings. Mussorgsky's Pictures was composed in tribute to his artist friend Viktor Hartmann after the latter's sudden death aged just 39. The famous Promenade, played here with unaffected lightness, walks us into a gallery of Hartmann's artworks.
This story is from the August 10-16, 2024 edition of New Zealand Listener.
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This story is from the August 10-16, 2024 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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