Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Paris & Philippe Jordan - Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition - Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 "C

Philippe Jordan conducts the Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris in much-loved works by Russian composers: Prokofiev’s ‘Classical’ Symphony and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in Ravel’s famous orchestration. Directly before the recording sessions, a concert featuring both works prompted this response from ResMusica: “Philippe Jordan, known for his precision in interpreting a score, exhibited superb authority in a programme that showed off the orchestra to great effect and astonished the ear with its profusion of colours … Pictures at an Exhibition was marvellous from beginning to end.”

Commenting on his life as a conductor in the French newspaper Les Échos, Jordan said: “My feeling is that activity both in the orchestral pit and on the concert podium is necessary for a full appreciation of what a conductor’s life has to offer.” The Swiss-born maestro is much admired for the refinement he draws from orchestras; as Gramophone observed of his Erato release of Ravel’s complete Daphnis et Chloé, recorded with the orchestra of the Paris Opéra: “He graces the rhythms and dynamics with natural, malleable inflection and crafts the textures with such care.” For all that, Jordan believes that “Sheer beauty of sound is not enough … you have to find the particular soundworld of each work, of each composer.”

TRACKLIST

01. Pictures at an Exhibition: I. Promenade I
02. Pictures at an Exhibition: II. Gnomus
03. Pictures at an Exhibition: III. Promenade II
04. Pictures at an Exhibition: IV. Il Vecchio Castello
05. Pictures at an Exhibition: V. Promenade III
06. Pictures at an Exhibition: VI. Tuileries
07. Pictures at an Exhibition: VII. Bydlo
08. Pictures At An Exhibition: VIII. Promenade IV
09. Pictures at an Exhibition: IX. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
10. Pictures at an Exhibition: X. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuÿle
11. Pictures at an Exhibition: XI. The Market at Limoges
12. Pictures at an Exhibition: XII. Catacombæ (Sepulcrum romanum)
13. Pictures At An Exhibition: XIII. Cum Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
14. Pictures at an Exhibition: XIV. The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yagá)
15. Pictures at an Exhibition: XV. The Great Gate of Kiev
16. Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, "Classical symphony": I. Allegro
17. Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, "Classical symphony": II. Larghetto
18. Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, "Classical symphony": III. Gavotta
19. Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25, "Classical symphony": IV. Finale-Molto vivace