François Dumont – Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition & Other Piano Works (2019) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

When the Russian designer and architect Viktor Hartmann died unexpectedly of an aneurysm in 1873, Mussorgsky fell into a state of profound depression. The two artists had grown close. A memorial exhibition was quickly planned, and over four hundred of Hartmann’s works were displayed. Some of the paintings and sketches exhibited were the source of inspiration for Mussorgsky as he set out to compose “Pictures at an Exhibition,” a suite of brief movements penned in June 1874 – three months after the exposition took place. Seemingly depicting the viewer wandering through the gallery, moving from one painting to the next, the piece has become one of the giants of the piano repertoire, and has been orchestrated by a number of composers, including the splendid version by Maurice Ravel. “Pictures at an Exhibition” is one of François Dumont’s warhorses. In the present album, alongside the celebrated suite, the French pianist offers a selection of rarely heard piano works by Mussorgsky. They hail from two very different periods – his early years, and the very last year of the composer’s life. They offer a glimpse into Mussorgsky’s pianistic skills, and are heavily influenced by Russian folklore and traditions. François Dumont’s career was launched by his success in major international piano competitions, including one of the top prizes in the 2010 Chopin Competition in Warsaw. He has performed in some of the major concert halls around the world.

Tracklist:
1-01. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – Promenade I (01:19)
1-02. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – I. Gnomus (02:44)
1-03. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – Promenade II (00:46)
1-04. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – II. Old Castle (03:41)
1-05. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – Promenade III (00:25)
1-06. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – III. Tuileries (Dispute d’enfants apres jeux) (01:02)
1-07. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – IV. Bydlo (02:51)
1-08. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – Promenade IV (00:42)
1-09. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – V. Ballet of the Chickens in Their Shells (01:07)
1-10. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – VI. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle (02:12)
1-11. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – Promenade V (01:22)
1-12. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – VII. The Marketplace at Limoges (01:23)
1-13. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – VIIIa. Catacomb? (Sepulcrum romanum) (02:20)
1-14. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – VIIIb. Con mortuis in lingua mortua (01:54)
1-15. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – IX. The Hut on Fowl’s Legs (Baba-Yaga) (03:07)
1-16. François Dumont – Pictures at an Exhibition – X. The Great Gate of Kiev (04:40)
1-17. François Dumont – Pictures from Crimea – No. 1, On the Southern Shore of the Crimea (04:02)
1-18. François Dumont – Pictures from Crimea – No. 2, Near the Southern Shore of the Crimea (03:10)
1-19. François Dumont – Une larme (03:06)
1-20. François Dumont – Souvenir d’enfance (03:19)
1-21. François Dumont – From Memories of Childhood – No. 1, Nanny and I (01:32)
1-22. François Dumont – In the Village (04:03)
1-23. François Dumont – Sorochyntsi Fair – Fair Scene (Version for Piano) (03:56)
1-24. François Dumont – Meditation (Album Leaf) (03:57)
1-25. François Dumont – Sorochyntsi Fair – Hopak (Version for Piano) (01:46)
1-26. François Dumont – Porte-enseigne (Polka) (02:21)
1-27. François Dumont – Reverie (On a Theme by V. Loginov) (03:57)