Pictures at an Exhibition

About the Performance

The ten movements in Pictures at an Exhibition serve as musical illustrations of drawings and watercolors by Viktor Hartmann, a dear friend of Mussorgsky’s who died prematurely. Originally composed for piano, the symphonic version we love today was orchestrated by Maurice Ravel at the request of famed Russian conductor Serge Koussevitzky. In the final, and perhaps most recognizable movement, Ravel unleashes the full power of the orchestra through his vision of the Great Gate of Kiev. Though several of Hartmann’s visual works are lost, they are immortalized in this vibrant musical masterpiece.