Pictures
In Pictures, Ian Holtham leads the listener through a showcase of Romantic piano masterpieces, including Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and Schumann's 'Carnaval'.
'Pictures' is a showcase of piano works from the Romantic period. Featuring two of the best-known instrumental examples of pictorialism in the Romantic repertoire: Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' and Schumann's 'Carnaval'.
'Pictures at an Exhibition', a magnificent cycle of ten pieces was inspired by an exhibition held a year after the death of Mussorgsky's close friend, artist Victor Hartmann. 'Pictures' provides a brilliant example of Mussorgsky's ability to represent emotions and personalities. Through imitation and musical gesture he leads the listener step by step through an enchanting musical exhibition.
'Carnaval', a work of absolute mastery and one of the most beloved in the piano repertoire, was composed by a love smitten Schumann in 1834. The lucky girl Estrella, came from the town of Asch and Schumann used these letters which correspond to the German musical alphabet (and the letters in his own name) to form an intriguing musical code which he used to compose virtually the entire thematic content of the work. Set as part carnival, part masked-ball 'Carnaval 'mirrors Schumann's life and influences in many esoteric and wonderful ways.
Finally Tchaikovsky's 'Doumka', unfailingly Russian in character and full of tremendous contrasts and fluctuations makes a stunning addition to the collection.
Take a musical wander through Pictures!
Artist
Ian Holtham
Professor Ian Holtham is one of the most distinguished and highly regarded pianists and pedagogues in Australia and his performances of the great Classical and Romantic repertoire have played to packed houses and rave reviews for many years.
Press quote
“some truly lovely playing”
— Duncan Peppercorn, Soundscapes
Audio preview
Track Listing
- Doumka Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Préambule
- Pierrot
- Arlequin
- Valse noble
- Eusebius
- Florestan
- Coquette
- Réplique/Sphinxes
- Papillons
- A.S.C.H - S.C.H.A lettres dansantes
- Chiarina
- Chopin
- Estrella
- Reconnaissance
- Pantalon et Columbine
- Valse allemande/Intermezzo: Paganini
- Aveu
- Promenade
- Pause
- Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins
- Promenade
- The Gnome
- Promenade
- The Old Castle
- Promenade
- The Tuileries
- The Ox-Cart (Byldo)
- Promenade
- Ballet of the Chicks in their Shells
- Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle
- Promenade
- The Market Place in Limoges
- The Catacombs: con mortuis in lingua mortua
- The Hut on Fowl's Legs
- The Great Gate of Kiev
Carnaval Robert Schumann
Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky
Performers
- Ian Holtham · piano
Composers
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839 - 1881) was a Russian composer, one of the group known as "The Five". He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period. He strove to achieve a uniquely Russian musical identity, often in deliberate defiance of the established conventions of Western music.
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era.
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer of the Romantic era. He wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, and the 1812 Overture.
Where to buy
Pictures is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through
Apple Music.
Pictures is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.
Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.
