Evgeny Kissin: Mussorgski - Pictures at an Exhibition

Live recording from the Chorégies d'Orange - Frankreich, 2002
Evgeny Kissin - piano
Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition: A Remembrance of Viktor Hartmann
0:35 Promenade I
1:47 The Gnome
4:12 Promenade II
5:08 The Old Castle
10:15 Promenade III
10:41 The Tuileries: Children's dispute after play
11:40 Bydlo
14:40 Promenade IV
15:17 Ballet of the unhatched chicks
16:27 Two Polish Jews: Rich and poor
18:39 Promenade V
19:48 The market at Limoges
21:03 Roman Catacombs - With the dead in a dead language
25:37 Baba Yaga: The Witch
28:56 The Heroes Gate at Kiev
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Watch also the orchestral version performed by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra: • Mussorgsky - Pictures ...

[@ZWheels_]

Only came here to see the first promenade. 34 minutes later here I am

[@slightlygrumpy]

same

[@aaronsilva9062]

Mussorgsky has had that effect on me, also. ☺

[@ruperttmls7985]

Me too LOL

[@maximaxi6825]

jajjajajajaaa mee too

[@Jimmy.Williams]

LOL...every time with this piece!!!!😀

[@RodM.Peters]

Love how each Promenade has a totally different mood, as if the gallery visitor is indeed emotionally affected by each of the pictures. Sheer genius.

One of the reasons I return to hear this this piece often

[@BrianJohnstonTrombone]

Mussorgsky, master composer. Ravel, master orchestrater. Together, WOW.

[@kapellmeister51]

That’s the first thing I noticed. It’s the first performance on piano I’ve heard that’s equal to or better than the usual orchestrated performance.

[@gilbertostefan]

You really got the idea 🙂

[@bumble1612]

On an unusually warm night here in Scotland, I'm in my garden, watching the bats feast in flight, just as darkness descends. Listening to this majestic performance via headphones, brings a wonderful end to this day. Goodnight to all.

[@ananis]

bats are definitevly antifascists / so kill the batman

[@davidrockefeller2007]

Magical!

[@poopsiedoo5049]

Did you enjoy your bat soup?

[@carnivaltym]

You have bats in Scotland? Here in Sydney, we see flocks (?) of bats cloud the sky at dusk, 100's of thousands of them maybe! What's the go in Scotland?

[@robertlee3756]

I have been listening to this piece for over 50 years i think he is the best

[@foofpilled]

This is easily up there as one of the best solo piano compositions ever written for its expressiveness and the creativity of the whole concept.

[@johnsmith-wk2tb]

It's hard to even wrap my mind around the towering greatness of all involved

[@Monkeyboy2457]

It is so original and creative. The rawness and emotional power is breathtaking.

[@jr499]

The Planets piano version by Holst is also exquisite.

[@nanomonkey3143]

The last several minutes is the most regal, stately, majestic thing I have ever heard to come from one person at a piano. . . and I'm old.

[@PhantomX141291]

Promenade I has to be one of the catchiest melodies I've ever heard.

[@ArpitsPianoHits]

PhantomPianist91 yup

[@raphaelneves7666]

Just true

[@WatercraftGames]

It's beautiful

[@terbigail]

agree

[@stephanegenilloud1139]

Only today did I learn that this was written by Mussorgski for piano. I had always known the orchestral piece (and the ELP rendition). This original piano version makes so much more sense.

[@rmc3669]

The Pletnev performance is even better imho.

[@tomallman3956]

The elp version was my initial exposure to Mussorgsky as well. Rock and roll gradually made me appreciate classical music. I like the piano version much more than the orchestral versions.

[@costafinkel]

​@@tomallman3956 Its incredible how much people got exposed to classical music beyond Beethoven's "5th Symphony" and Vivaldi's "4 seasons" by listening to ELP. Not that Pictures at an Exhibition is obscure or anything, but still..

[@johnbader3722]

Always enjoyed Calvin Hampton's pipe organ transcription of many years ago. Recently discovered Jonathan Scott's more recent organ performance on You Tube. Definitely worth a listen.

[@ccreib]

La version pour piano ainsi que la version orchestrée par Ravel sont toutes les deux formidables.

[@guillemclara]

0:35 Promenade l 1:47 The Gnom 4:12 Promenade ll 5:08 The Old Castle 10:15 Promenade lll 10:41 The Tuileries: Children's dispute after play 11:40 Bydlo 14:40 Promenade lV 15:17 Ballet of the unhatched chicks 16:27 Two Polish Jews: Rich and poor 18:39 Promenade V 19:48 The market at Limoges 21:03 Roman Catacombs - With the dead in a dead language 25:37 Baba Yaga: The Witch 28:56 The Heroes Gate at Kiev

[@hunter.ru1745]

Senk you

[@DarkPablo]

Thank you very much.

[@coltinanderson7423]

Thank you

[@luiswe4598]

Sankiu

[@palmaiattila3288]

Arigató gozaimashita!

[@schocoserizawa7912]

this thing got me so emotional i cried for 30 mins straight

[@Ella-Bella945]

sorry :(

[@JBrandeis1]

Here is the cloud-wrapped genius of Moussorgsky brought fully and completely to light by the hands of this young wizard.

[@guillermobadell6]

Beautiful and accurate comment.. I totally agree...

[@andrewmesser1955]

@@ktiemz the talent *is* the genius. Who cares what wrapper it's in?

[@ktiemz]

@@andrewmesser1955 the 'genius' was Rimsky-Korsakov...

[@MartyMusic777]

@@ktiemz Rimsky-Korsakov was a very gifted composer, but he never wrote a piece this varied and stylistically challenging. Of the Five, he definitely had the best sense of orchestration, however Tchaikovsky's opinion that Mussorgsky was perhaps the most gifted among them seems to hold some merit seeing how few pieces Mussorgsky completed and how often they are still played, versus a majority of the music written by Rimsky.

[@beechrad1965]

Took me a while to understand why EK’s playing is so unique and so beautiful...He plays like a child...Hard to explain but there is an innocence in his technique...a sense of wonder that shows through. Sublime.

[@cromorno8749]

When he play he's probably marvelled by his own performance.

[@veronekovideos7148]

Amazingly beautiful

[@fairly75]

yes so, he is not good, to try to lesson her kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6GqiaNvrKxoppo Yudina, or Pletnev, he the best too.

[@valdemar9960]

@@fairly75 Dont understand what u was trying to say, but i think u mean that Kissin is a bad teacher? And that is very possible. Being good yourself doesnt mean that you can teach

[@normhall1622]

Kissin inspires me. His playing not only captures the music at hand but he is coming from a higher source.

[@adamek82]

Have you noticed how wonderfully The Old Castle was played? Eternal interpretation. As he discovered a piece of the mystery of the universe in that 5 minutes... Absolutely amazing.

[@palmaiattila3288]

I got exactly the same impressions.

[@benjaminsawyer1292]

Evgeny is so good! This guy is a master.

[@Philippositivity]

Note, no coughing or ordinance interruption. ❤ perfect.

[@spikespa5208]

Always good to not have ordinance going off during the piece.😊

[@mr.k7201]

Unbelievable - he´s playing the whole work by heart. Really awesome!!!!

[@anishraja9655]

I will say though that you sort of have to at a performance seeing as how the full thing is 35 minutes long and like a 100 pages.

[@marquisberrey3085]

Everyone who has tried to play this knows how challenging it is, yet Kissin makes it flow so beautifully and expressively. A master class of performance.

[@jeremyjoe714]

Anyone that's played the orchestrated version already knows how difficult of a piece this truly is, it's even more difficult on Piano. Kissin played this FLAWLESSLY.

[@machiwoomiapoo]

I'm here because I love playing this tune and many other Russian composer tunes. What an amazing performance by Evgeny Kissin! Long live Mussorgsky's music!

[@LucasPianoSalon]

This is what the Internet is for.

[@merlin5476]

I must thank Keith Greg & Carl for getting me into this master piece.

[@qizhou7515]

For molbile users: 0:36- Promenade I 1:47- The Gnome 4:12 - Promenade ll 5:08- The Old Castle 10:15- Promenade lll 10:41- The Tuileries: Children's dispute after play 11:39 - Bydlo 14:40- Promenade lV 15:17- Ballet of the unhatched chicks 16:27- The two Polish Jews: Rich and poor 18:39- Promenade V 19:49 - The market at Limoges 21:03- Roman Catacombs - With the dead in a dead language 25:37- Baba Yaga: The Witch 28:56 - The Heroes Gate at Kiev Thank you!

[@accountnotinuse1535]

Obvious coincidence but who else noticed that Kiev (great gates of Kiev) consists of ki and ev as in Kissin and Evgeny.

[@Jack-ji2kz]

This is incredibly random. But great 😂

[@Thekymism]

H buy

[@Lindae696969]

Very good! That is a coincidence! 🎶🎼🎹

[@classicalmusicat432hz]

Also piano keys are black and white, and Kissin is dressed in black an white 😱 MIND BLOWING!!!

[@TJMusic2021]

😅😅 hahaha

[@suttonmercer4466]

1:07 those chords give me chills. love this piece so much.

[@raffitorossian6994]

MR KISSIN IS A GIANT, SUPER VIRTUOSO ARTIST, FULL OF FEELING AND TCHNIC.....I WISH HIM HEALTH AND MUCH MORE SUCCESS....!

[@palmaiattila3288]

The best musical interpretation and artist performance ever. The cameraman's performance is also top quality.

[@tobiolopainto]

I can't agree about the cameraman's "performance." It's bothersome, cut-aways synced with various bits of music. At one point when the camera has been focused on Kissin's left ear for a while, Kissin glares at the camera for a few seconds, as if to say, "Grow up!" When the Catacombs starts, the camera pulls all the way out into the auditorium as if to make a comparison between catacombs (claustrophobic) and the spaciousness of a large auditorium (lots of room...?) This is pretty stupid camera-work. Kissin's performance is good, but not as rhythmically incisive as Richter's famous performances of this piece. Less camera-moves, more pianist shots without all that in and out.

[@skzion2]

@@tobiolopainto In fairness to Kissin, Richter's most sublime live performance (Sofia) begins with huge numbers of mistakes for no good reason. Kissin would never be so slipshod.

[@tobiolopainto]

@@skzion2 So? Horowitz's comeback Performance at Carnegie Hall began with some mistakes for no good reason, and so what? This is supposed to mean something when all the rest of the notes were beyond perfection? Richter's too. Beyond perfection. I like Kissin, but not beyond perfection. He's a little too timid when compared to the older generation of pianists. Kissin is one of the best pianists around. And he has some real stiff competition. This is a "nice" Pictures, as if he had to maintain his manners in a public gallery. Richter played this piece without manners. And by all accounts, Mussorgski was without manners.

[@keithmatthews1673]

@@skzion2 It was 1958 on a cold night behind the iron curtain - poor old Richter was probably freezing - but he certainly warmed up!

[@pianoman8642]

I'd have preferred more focus on the hands

[@andrewnix6480]

Possibly the 500th time I've listened to this Great Gate rendition. Best in history

[@Hermonethic]

so right

[@adrianaperelli2225]

Andrew Nix 3bellissimo e anc

[@anavieira4063]

👍

[@acyutanandadas1326]

After Horowitz's performance of this a reviewer said "It's a wonder the piano is still standing on its legs'

[@Lindae696969]

Andrew Nix Me too! I never get tired of Mussorgski’s Pictures of Exhibition and having Kissen performing this piece is icing on the cake! 🎹🎶

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Comfort and gracefulness of Kissin’s performance are immeasurable profound and off the charts

[@kjeldadamofsky9196]

yes very nice

[@relatosymemorias9516]

Love this pianist. He always reveals a freshness that is new .

[@Ultrazone91]

If you know the score, you can easily see how outstanding is to play the finale of the great gate at that speed and accuracy! Wonderful performance

[@timward276]

yeah, I've performed it, and I didn't go *nearly* that fast. I think that's the intended tempo, as it's marked Allegro. Those leaping triplets at the end are scary - both hands have to jump all over the keyboard and everyone will notice if you miss.

[@orlandocfi]

I think a slightly slower tempo and a touch of rubato amplifies the majesty of “great gate.”

[@pocoapoco2]

Actually I found his finnish to the Marketplace portrait to be the most astonishing.

[@ukdavepianoman]

Complete agree. Those chordal jumps are hair-raising. And EK plays them with such power too. Really astonishing technique.

[@normhall1622]

If it gets any better than that, I haven't heard it. Bravo to a great pianist!

[@jeandemontebello3223]

It doesn't get better than that

[@shin-i-chikozima]

Kissin is an Alchemist of the piano He weaves emotion andtribute from his piano playing

[@lindaeknoian2290]

This is one of the best performances I have seen. Evgeny Kissin plays with so much power, physicality, color, texture, and passion! I have watched this video many times and never get tired of his performance! He is an actor on keys 🎹! Thank you for posting!💜🎹💜🎹

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Great comment Linda, you are spot on.

[@Lindae696969]

@@DavidA-ps1qr Thank you! 🎶🎹

[@quaver1239]

WOW. Stunning. Kissin always amazes me, even though we think we know what to expect of him. Thank you for 34 wonderful minutes.

[@classicpiano7]

What a spectacular performance...brought me to tears!

[@BsBigSpinToTheShin]

Wow just amazing, first time I have watched something like this. Absolutely enjoyed it, I have no words just love this. I only just discovered Mussorgsky today, will 1000000% be listening to this again.

[@thethikboy]

What is phenomenal about this piece is its coloristic range - on a piano - the original instrument for which it was composed. Of course Kissin reincarnates Mussorgsky in complete power.

[@aescobaa3]

He.is completed drunk as the composer but he dont need any rehab..🤓unbelievable..!

[@user-dp7xy2rc7c]

What a beautiful tribute to M's friend. Just mesmerizing music, playing and video.

[@toralvdirro760]

Simply the best interpretation and performance (i have ever heard) of the best piece of music ever written.

[@ivangloriamachadoprofissio6918]

Kissin seems like a Angel when he play

[@jorgeaguirre7260]

5:10 The old castle. No words

[@VassilikiKravari]

A masterpiece. What about the drama in Bydlo?

[@davidsa440]

As stunning as this live performance is, the quality of the sound recording in capturing the response from the piano is absolutely astounding, better than any studio recording I've ever heard.

[@GTXTi-db5xu]

Exactly, it's unbelievable especially considering that this was performed outdoors.

[@DonaldSosinJoannaSeaton]

And that's with the compressed sound KZbin give us. Imagine what it really sounds like!

[@Modeltnick]

This performance leaves me speechless! Hats off, a genius!

[@anthonyderitis2507]

I saw Kissin play opening night at the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2009 -- amazing. And this performance? Out of this world !!

[@keiji4665]

What a short 34 minutes ! Never get tired of it for a moment.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

Splendid interpretation, with massive concentration on tempi and dynamics. A joy from start to finish.

[@vangeliskritikos8326]

I admire this energy and performance skill.

[@jackal59]

My piano teacher used to complain that this is a completely "unpianistic" piece of music. I think she just couldn't play it (but then again, neither can I).

[@BigPoppaCreech]

Wasn’t it originally written for piano and later arranged for orchestra?

[@feuersalamander8331]

@@BigPoppaCreech That's right.

[@xekind]

With all due disrespect, your piano teacher is a moron who probably thinks twinkle twinkle little star is the epitome of piano music.

[@Lalulalala824]

It is in many ways unpianistic)

[@TomD67]

@@feuersalamander8331 That's true, but it was not arranged by the composer. He wrote it only for piano. Many others since have orchestrated it, Ravel's version being the best known.

[@palmaiattila3288]

The whole piece performed by Kissin is unique in its interpretation and preciseness. In my life I had never heard such a beautiful lute plucking as he was playing "Il vecchio castello".

[@josephslotnick4516]

What a magnificent piece of music by mussorgsky!

[@Emmoth666]

I must say I deeply admire this piece of work, it shakes my own personal foundations to the inner core. I have many times returned to this clip and enjoyed myself, I think I always will.

[@hpu8137]

Amazing performance, amazing recording and amazing audience! Plus, amazing piano!

[@knd1940]

A spectacular performance, full of color and excitement. I've never heard it played on the piano with so much inventiveness before.

[@thethikboy]

Quite an exhibition of brilliant power and genius worthy of Mussorgsky

[@StrideLatinProgRick]

Interpretazione sublime e strepitosa. La più grande che io conosca.

[@marcychristoff219]

That might be the best version of this piece I've ever heard. Outstanding!!👏

[@lasseadamofsky5531]

So ein geilese Produkt

[@sweet_dadadaa568]

Joa schon

[@nadastojanovic9585]

A stunning performance. This is my favourite!!!

[@raffaeletestolin3647]

a great pianist and a superb performance. Many tanks for this record on you tube.

[@whitepanties2751]

Orchestrations of 'Pictures at an Exhibition' have their place but this original piano version should be heard more often, especially if done like this. Thank you, to Evgeny Kissin and to the ghost of Modest Mussorgski.

[@yorammash6315]

Amazing performance 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@milenahuberty7190]

Tout simplement génial....

[@user-ir2zb9li1q]

0:35漫步I 1:47地精 4:12漫步II 5:08老城堡 10:15漫步III 10:41杜樂麗：玩耍後的兒童糾紛 11:40牛車 14:40漫步IV 15:17未孵化小雞的芭蕾舞 16:27兩名波蘭猶太人：貧富 18:39漫步V 19:48利摩日市場 21:03羅馬地下墓穴-用死語表達死者 25:37 Baba Yaga：女巫 28:56在基輔的英雄之門

[@WatercraftGames]

ok

[@MrGoshka1]

​@@WatercraftGamesob.

[@robinblankenship9234]

Nothing more authentic than hearing a Russian playing Russian music. Fantastic.

[@robinblankenship9234]

They play with authentic and unapologetic love of their native culture. That is increasingly rare these days, especially in the West, which is now running away from itself as fast as it can.

[@TerryUniGeezerPeterson]

Music is music.

[@josephslotnick4516]

Excellent technique notwithstanding,he plays this piece with passion an understanding of the emotions that M. Intended.

[@scivalesmusicbooks1977]

Straordinario. This is by far the best interpretation of this masterwork I have ever heard. Congratulations!

[@shin-i-chikozima]

This masterpiece sublimates the regret and sorrow and a friend's memories of Mussorgsky , who died in poverty at the young age of 42 From Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

[@josephslotnick4516]

Best of both realms/worlds--gothic deep emotion and great technical skill contained in both this piece and this amazingly beautiful ethereal performance.

[@elzbietaseidel1449]

Genialne wykonanie!!! I to w jakim tempie!!

[@m0ment219]

Best performance in my book. Been scrolling KZbin the past hours to try and find better performances, but couldn't. Incredible.

[@Flightofphenomena]

I thought I couldn’t love this more. He had me in tears at the end! Oh. My. Fuck. What a banger.

[@beverleyweir4508]

This is absolutely brilliant. Yevgeny is such a wonderful pianist and interprets this piece so well. I love the piano version.

[@irellalorenz]

Awesome. Just talent.

[@continentalgin]

Very expressive and magnetic. Bravo Kissin.

[@zehrasumerkan3990]

a very beautiful interpretation. I like Evgeny Kissin :)

[@handsfree1000]

The best piano in the world. The best pianist in the world. The best music in the world. I can cope with that!

[@dnabodyshop]

Brilliant performance. Love it.

[@kanekokazuko7034]

神の手✌️✌️凄すぎる‼️やっぱりキーシン大好きです。有り難うございます。

[@kimtay5548]

The best "Pictures" performance, truly remarkable.

[@josianecruveiller9551]

Kim Tay A very good one, yes... But... are you so sure it's the best one? Listen to that !!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6bGeWehhcZ7hs0

[@Lola-yz4df]

Very good👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 I love Horowitz interpretation especially Hero Gate in Kiev- he was originally from Kiev himself and managed to bring that wonderful sound of Pechorskaya Lavra bells- exactly the same sound. Amazing!

[@karstenwintherjensen2677]

Great performance

[@hansmuller1846]

What a fantastic performance!

[@kompon9]

great!!!!

[@Ivan-co6rb]

When Mr. Kissin first gained recognition, I was doubtful that he would last because his playing looked labored and musically he was one dimensional but I could not have been more wrong as I watched and heard him go from the talented pianist without much distinction to one of the finest pianist today musically, technically, interpretion, commitment. His performance of this work shows that an orchestra isn't required to create a broad range of color - a pianist of this caliber can color so beautifully and beautifully nuanced as Mr. Kissin demonstrates. Modeste Mussorgsky's inspired composition in the hands of a Master of the Piano. Hats off to both. I do love Ravel's Orchestration as it illuminates the work, is edifying and anyone playing this work at the Piano should know Ravel's orchestration then go to the piano and forget everything except the notes and musical directions of Mussorgsky.

[@petrina1022]

Astonishing performance!--wish I could hear him perform live!

[@skzion2]

I have heard him live. Fantastic. Studio recordings tend to be so processed. Here we can see that this fellow is 100% authentic. I rarely listen to performers who are now alive. Kissin is an exception.

[@MarioRodriguez-mb4wz]

The composer, the painter, the interpreter, the camera man, all wonderfull artista.

[@user-ju2bi6hq3o]

Браво!!!!!!!! Гениально!!!!

[@TheGuggo]

Technique and expression at its best. Amazing.

[@simmo303]

. . . and a magnificent piano.

[@TheGuggo]

Indeed... I am so lucky to have one of these magnificent instruments. There is someone that has commented that the sound is °thin°. Maybe that person needs to upgrade the audio equipment or is just one of those inexplicable 56 minds (at the moment of writing this) that gave a “thumbs down” to this performance or to the instrument.

[@Dominosteine42]

To me, he's the best pianist on earth in his generation. He's technically flawless - I never heard even a single wrong note. And, he's able to make beautiful music even from the most difficult pieces: they just sound like he wants them to sound. That doesn't mean that I adore every of his interpretations. For example, the "great gate of kiev" I find a tiny, tiny bit too fast. Could be a tiny bit more relaxed and enjoyable. Also, I don't know many pieces from the vienna classics period played by him, I more focussed on his interpretations of romantic and post-romantic music.

[@Dominosteine42]

Example: Scriabin Etude Op.8 No.12 (but, not to forget the wonderful Vladimir Horovitz with his phenomenal left-hand phrasing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXTPdXmje9KlZs0)

[@csabanekatalinelteto]

PAZAR előadás, nagy élmény volt!

[@ukdavepianoman]

This is truly an extraordinary performance. Full of passion couple with phenomenal technique. The tempo and volume Kissin takes through the final bars of the Gates of Kiev while maintaining total accuracy is staggering (I know as I've played this).

[@66renny66]

Magnificient!

[@conchacarbajocascon4948]

Gracias!!!❤

[@vijayraghavan6383]

This is beyond belief!

[@p.kayward6966]

0:36 to 33:14 my favorite part.

[@rothenbeauregard6430]

I liked 00:01 - 00:35 more :D

[@mambooooooo917]

@@rothenbeauregard6430 ??

[@csbNine]

Right? 👍

[@ysz7149]

p. kay ward in fact I’d prefer to listen the part from 0:36 to 1:47 over and over again.

[@dusa5918]

Based on Russian liturgic music... very beautiful...

[@yzcafe]

The background story of 10 pictures which Mussorgski had been inspired by to compose this suit is so interesting! I found old TV program to seek for missing pictures which was so exciting and made me touched so much to know the truth!

[@johnsmith-wk2tb]

Hearing Ravel's orchestrated version many times, but only the original composition long ago. Hearing this now, I'm just completely immersed in this incredible experience. Such amazing genius in the music and this performance.

[@bluerev]

Masterpiece!

[@tomaspinto1160]

Brilliant!

[@zodiace1]

I hadn't liked this pianist before hearing him do this piece. Very good!