Modest Mussorgsky

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Biography

Born: Mar 21, 1839; Russia   Died: Mar 28, 1881; Russia   Period: Romantic
His musical education was erratic, he toiled as a civil servant and wrote music only part-time, influenced few if any of his contemporaries, died early from alcoholism, and left a small body of work. Yet Modest Mussorgsky was a towering figure in nineteenth century Russian music. His works exhibit a daring, raw individuality, a unique sound that well-meaning associates tried to conventionalize and smooth over. He is best known for Night on Bald Read more Mountain (bowdlerized by Rimsky-Korsakov), Pictures at an Exhibition (a difficult piano suite orchestrated by Ravel), and the dark, declamatory opera Boris Godunov (polished by Rimsky-Korsakov) -- bastardized works all, yet each one full of arresting harmonies, disturbing colors, and grim celebrations of Russian nationalism.
Mussorgsky died in poverty, but he was born to a wealthy landowning family. Under his mother's tutelage, he developed a facility at the piano, but entered a cadet school in preparation for a military career. He joined a choir and discovered Russian church music, which would profoundly influence his later work.
Upon graduation in 1856, Mussorgsky entered the Russian Imperial Guard. That year he started to socialize with the composers Dargomizhsky and Cui, and through them Balakirev, with whom he began composition lessons. During this period he wrote small piano pieces and songs, and after an emotional crisis in 1858 resigned his commission with the intention of composing full-time. He began to go his own way as a composer in 1861, but was preoccupied helping to manage his family's estate. The decline in his family's fortunes led him to accept low-level civil service positions. He joined a commune with other intellectuals and became a proponent of musical Realism, applying the style to his songs. He had difficulty finishing works in larger formats, but his music circulated widely enough that by the late 1860s he was cast with Balakirev, Cui, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Borodin as part of Russia's "Mighty Handful."
Mussorgsky toiled many years at his masterpiece, Boris Godunov, which reflected in music the inflections of Russian speech and met with great success in 1874. That year he also produced his innovative piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition. Yet his heavy drinking led to his dismissal from government service in 1880. Friends offered some financial help and Mussorgsky occasionally accompanied singers at the piano, but his finances and mental state quickly deteriorated. He died in 1881, leaving it to posterity to sort through and complete his unfinished works of unruly genius. Read less

Featured Modest Mussorgsky CDs & DVDs:

Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Etc / Serebrier
Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Etc / Serebrier
Release Date: 06/21/2005   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8557645   Number of Discs: 1
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Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Etc / Kuchar, Et Al
Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Etc / Kuchar, Et Al
Release Date: 04/15/2003   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8555924   Number of Discs: 1
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Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Etc / Nazareth
Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Etc / Nazareth
Release Date: 06/30/1992   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 8550051   Number of Discs: 1
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Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition (Arr. L. Stokowski) / Serebrier: Symphony No. 3 - Symphonie Mystique
Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition (Arr. L. Stokowski) / Serebrier: Symphony No. 3 - Symphonie Mystique
Release Date: 06/24/2008   Label: Naxos  
Catalog: 211030   Number of Discs: 1
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Paintings From The Piano - Mussorgsky, Etc / Jennifer Hayghe
Paintings From The Piano - Mussorgsky, Etc / Jennifer Hayghe
Release Date: 06/27/2006   Label: Centaur Records  
Catalog: 2753   Number of Discs: 1
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Work: Night on the Bare Mountain

Browse 1-25 of 164 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    DG 111: The Conductors / Various
    DG 111: The Conductors / Various
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 4797477 Release Date: 08/04/2017   Number of Discs: 40
    Composer:  Claude Debussy,  Maurice Ravel,  Alexander Scriabin,  Johannes Brahms  ... 
    Performer:  Gaston Litaize,  Alain Moglia,  Luben Yordanoff,  Christa Ludwig  ... 
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado,  Daniel Barenboim,  Leonard Bernstein,  Karl Böhm  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Boston Symphony Orchestra,  New England Conservatory Chorus,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $138.99
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  • 2.
    Andre Cluytens: The Complete Orchestral & Concerto Recordings
    Andre Cluytens: The Complete Orchestral & Concerto Recordings
    Label: Warner Classics   Catalog: 562261 Release Date: 06/16/2017   Number of Discs: 65
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Richard Strauss,  Raoul Laparra,  Georges Bizet  ... 
    Performer:  Monique de la Bruchollerie,  Marcelle Meyer,  Zino Francescatti,  Jeanne-Marie Darré  ... 
    Conductor:  André Cluytens
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire,  Le Grand Orchestre Symphonique Columbia,  Orchestre du Theatre National de l'Opera-Comique  ... 
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    CD: $89.99
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  • 3.
    Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain & Songs & Dances of Death - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
    Mussorgsky: A Night on the Bare Mountain & Songs & Dances of Death - Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
    Label: Oehms   Catalog: 459 Release Date: 06/16/2017   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky,  Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer:  Vladislav Sulimsky,  Agunda Kulaeva
    Conductor:  Dmitri Kitayenko
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne Gürzenich Orchestra,  Brno Czech Philharmonic Choir
    CD: $15.99
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  • 4.
    New York Philharmonic: 175th Anniversary Edition
    New York Philharmonic: 175th Anniversary Edition
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 533636 Release Date: 04/07/2017   Number of Discs: 65
    Composer:  Richard Wagner,  Richard Strauss,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Ambroise Thomas  ... 
    Performer:  Oscar Levant,  Robert Casadesus,  Isaac Stern,  Yo-Yo Ma
    Conductor:  Willem Mengelberg,  Josef Stransky,  Arturo Toscanini,  Sir John Barbirolli  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic
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  • 5.
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Markevitch, Gewandhausorchester [Vinyl]
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Markevitch, Gewandhausorchester [Vinyl]
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 0300896BC Release Date: 03/24/2017   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky
    Conductor:  Igor Markevitch
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
    LP: $39.99
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  • 6.
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Dudamel, Vienna Philharmonic
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Dudamel, Vienna Philharmonic
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 002588502 Release Date: 12/02/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Conductor:  Gustavo Dudamel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD: $17.99
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  • 7.
    Danse Macabre / Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
    Danse Macabre / Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 002562702 Release Date: 10/14/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Paul Dukas,  Antonín Dvorák,  Modest Mussorgsky,  Mily Balakirev  ... 
    Performer:  Andrew Wan
    Conductor:  Kent Nagano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Montreal Symphony Orchestra
    CD: $21.99
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  • 8.
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Serov, Volgograd Philharmonic
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Serov, Volgograd Philharmonic
    Label: Northern Flowers   Catalog: 9906 Release Date: 09/16/2016  
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky
    Conductor:  Eduard Serov
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Volgograd Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD: $16.99
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  • 9.
    Georges Pretre: The Symphonic Recordings
    Georges Pretre: The Symphonic Recordings
    Label: Erato   Catalog: 557140 Release Date: 09/02/2016   Number of Discs: 17
    Composer:  George Gershwin,  Darius Milhaud,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Joseph Jongen  ... 
    Conductor:  Georges Prętre
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    CD: $49.99
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  • 10.
    Orchestral Transcriptions of Leopold Stokowski / Bamert, BBC Philharmonic
    Orchestral Transcriptions of Leopold Stokowski / Bamert, BBC Philharmonic
    Label: Chandos   Catalog: 10900 Release Date: 05/27/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  William Byrd,  Jeremiah Clarke,  Dietrich Buxtehude  ... 
    Performer:  Patrick Addinall,  Cynthia Millar,  Peter Dixon
    Conductor:  Matthias Bamert
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 11.
    Stokowski Transcriptions / Serebrier, Bournemouth Symphony
    Stokowski Transcriptions / Serebrier, Bournemouth Symphony
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8578305 Release Date: 04/08/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Richard Wagner,  Modest Mussorgsky  ... 
    Performer:  Timothy Walden
    Conductor:  José Serebrier
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
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  • 12.
    Orford Six Pianos, Vol. 2: Khatchatourian, Prokofiev, Tchaikovski, Moussorgski
    Orford Six Pianos, Vol. 2: Khatchatourian, Prokofiev, Tchaikovski, Moussorgski
    Label: Atma Classique   Catalog: 2733 Release Date: 02/12/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aram Khachaturian,  Sergei Prokofiev,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Modest Mussorgsky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orford Six Pianos
    CD: $17.99
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  • 13.
    Piano Solo Con Sordino / Margulis, Argerich
    Piano Solo Con Sordino / Margulis, Argerich
    Label: Oehms   Catalog: 453 Release Date: 02/12/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Giacomo Puccini,  Franz Liszt  ... 
    Performer:  Jura Margulis,  Martha Argerich
    CD: $17.99
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  • 14.
    The Decca Sound [Repackaged Edition]
    The Decca Sound [Repackaged Edition]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 002434502 Release Date: 01/29/2016   Number of Discs: 50
    Composer:  Manuel de Falla,  Claude Debussy,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Enrique Granados  ... 
    Performer:  Teresa Berganza,  Alfredo Campoli,  Vladimir Ashkenazy,  Cecilia Bartoli  ... 
    Conductor:  Ernest Ansermet,  Ataulfo Argenta,  Anatole Fistoulari,  Vladimir Ashkenazy  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Suisse Romande Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra,  Philharmonia Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $181.49
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  • 15.
    The Complete HMV Recordings / Markevitch
    The Complete HMV Recordings / Markevitch
    Label: Erato   Catalog: 552546 Release Date: 09/25/2015   Number of Discs: 18
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Richard Strauss,  Johann Sebastian Bach  ... 
    Performer:  Jacques Neilz,  Denyse Gouarne,  Fernand Dufrene,  Henri Bronschwak  ... 
    Conductor:  Igor Markevitch
    CD: $58.99
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  • 16.
    Rr: Orchestral Anthology
    Rr: Orchestral Anthology
    Label: Lim   Catalog: 80 Release Date: 09/18/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Aaron Copland,  Leonard Bernstein,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Modest Mussorgsky  ... 
    Conductor:  Eiji Oue,  José Serebrier,  Timothy Seelig,  Frederick Fennell  ... 
    On sale! $43.98
    CD: $39.99
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  • 17.
    Grzegorz Nowak Conducts Mussorgsky
    Grzegorz Nowak Conducts Mussorgsky
    Label: Royal Philharmonic   Catalog: 39 Release Date: 09/11/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky
    Conductor:  Grzegorz Nowak
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
    CD: $17.99
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  • 18.
    Scriabin, Mussorgsky / Alessio Bax
    Scriabin, Mussorgsky / Alessio Bax
    Label: Signum U.k.   Catalog: 426 Release Date: 09/11/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Alexander Scriabin,  Modest Mussorgsky
    Performer:  Alessio Bax
    CD: $17.99
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  • 19.
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain / Giulini, Berlin Philharmonic
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain / Giulini, Berlin Philharmonic
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 88697757872 Release Date: 08/28/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky
    Performer:  Anatoly Kotcherga
    Conductor:  Carlo Maria Giulini,  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Berlin Radio Chorus
    CD: $6.99
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  • 20.
    Berliner Philharmoniker In Japan / Claudio Abbado
    Berliner Philharmoniker In Japan / Claudio Abbado
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2012478 Release Date: 02/24/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky,  Igor Stravinsky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Conductor:  Claudio Abbado
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
    DVD: $29.99
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  • 21.
    Lorin Maazel - The Complete Early Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
    Lorin Maazel - The Complete Early Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 002251502 Release Date: 02/17/2015   Number of Discs: 18
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Igor Stravinsky,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Jeanine Collard,  Jane Berbié,  Sylvaine Gilma,  Colette Herzog  ... 
    Conductor:  Lorin Maazel
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  French National Radio Orchestra,  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $85.99
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  • 22.
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Gergiev
    Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Gergiev
    Label: Mariinsky   Catalog: 553 Release Date: 02/10/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky
    Performer:  Ferruccio Furlanetto
    Conductor:  Valery Gergiev
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater Orchestra
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  • 23.
    Dark Hours: Mystic Moments Of Classical Music
    Dark Hours: Mystic Moments Of Classical Music
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300613 Release Date: 01/27/2015   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Gustav Mahler,  Franz Schubert,  Sergei Prokofiev  ... 
    Performer:  Siegfried Lorenz,  Elka Mitzewa,  Cécile Ousset,  Peter-Jürgen Schmidt  ... 
    Conductor:  Helmut Koch,  Otmar Suitner,  Norman Shetler,  Witold Rowicki  ... 
    CD: $29.99
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  • 24.
    Imagine
    Label: Sophia Pallas And Julian Trail   Catalog: 5638402569 Release Date: 12/16/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Emmanuel Chabrier,  Claude Debussy  ... 
    Performer:  Sophia Pallas,  Julian Trail
    CD: $13.99
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  • 25.
    Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition For Orchestra & Solo Piano
    Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition For Orchestra & Solo Piano
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94931 Release Date: 11/18/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Modest Mussorgsky,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Performer:  Alexander Warenberg
    Conductor:  Kurt Masur
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
    CD: $8.99
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