Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel)

Modest Mussorgsky

Recordings

Top Choice

Fritz Reiner / Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Top recommendation. A famous orchestral spectacular. They just play lights out. Colorful, exciting. Reiner lets the instruments play away. The Gate of Kiev is exciting.

Label: RCA Living Stereo

Also Worth Hearing

Raphael Kubelik / Chicago Symphony Orchestra

1951 Mono, but decent Mercury sound.

A supplement. Really great interpretation, very dramatic and intense. Kubelik was a great conductor. Worth seeking out.

Label: Mercury Living Presence

Serge Koussevitzky / Boston Symphony Orchestra

1930 Surprisingly good sound for 1930, great presence.

Shockingly good sound. You can hear the colors and lushness. Koussevitzky had great dramatic pacing (e.g., expansive opening). The interpretation is so strong it's worth hearing.