Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839–1881) was a seminal Russian composer whose works captured the essence of Russian nationalism during the Romantic period. Born into a wealthy land-owning family, Mussorgsky displayed prodigious musical talent from an early age. His best-known works include the opera "Boris Godunov," the orchestral tone poem "Night on Bald Mountain," and the piano suite "Pictures at an Exhibition." These pieces have played a significant role in establishing Mussorgsky as a pioneer in the use of Russian themes and folklore in classical music.

Mussorgsky's life was marked by his struggles with financial instability and alcoholism, which eventually contributed to his untimely death at the age of 42. Despite these personal challenges, he was a part of "The Mighty Handful," a group of five Russian composers dedicated to creating a distinctly Russian form of classical music. His compositional style is characterized by its raw energy, innovative harmonies, and use of Russian subjects, folklore, and fairy tales. "Pictures at an Exhibition," originally a piano composition, has become especially famous in the orchestral version arranged by Maurice Ravel, and it remains a testament to Mussorgsky's unique and enduring legacy in classical music. The aforementioned recent releases are performances and interpretations of his work by various artists and orchestras, demonstrating the continuing relevance and popularity of Mussorgsky's compositions in the classical repertoire.

Genres

Classical

Early Modern Classical

Late Romantic Era

Russian Romanticism

Related Artists

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Sergei Rachmaninoff

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Dmitri Shostakovich

Alexander Borodin

Sergei Prokofiev

Alexander Scriabin

Aram Khachaturian

Igor Stravinsky

Mikhail Glinka

Franz Liszt

Alexander Glazunov

Latest Release

Ballade - A Piano Exhibition

Cecile Ousset•

Claude Debussy•

Erik Satie•

Frédéric Chopin•

Maurice Ravel•

Modest Mussorgsky

Album - 65 Tracks - Released November 17, 2024