Rimsky deleted the vocal parts, changed harmonies, changed orchestration, changed the structure of the piece (including deleting sections--look how much shorter it is)...it was a pretty thorough overhaul, much more drastic than say Mahler's modest revisions of Schumann's symphonies which many purists reject. I prefer the composers' original. Strange how many people are happier with the Rimsky. Sure it's still exciting but he made it too refined IMO.
Yavar
Actually I like them both...
Now shall we discuss the original BORIS GODUNOV versus the Rimsky version? There are strong partisans on each side! And there's a Shostakovich revision as well that I've never heard.
Poor Mussorgsky--so much of his music has been subject to tampering.
I’ve heard many variations over the years and I usually go back to Stokowski’s version with the LSO (1966) even if it’s Rimsky-Korsakov’s rework. Perhaps it’s because that was the first version I heard, but it seems to work best for my listening pleasure.
This is the version I've listened to by far the most too and I love it but I'm not sure whether it's the Rimsky-Korsakov adaptation or the version Stokowski adapted himself, does anyone know for sure?
In terms of Mussorgsky's original version, has anyone heard the below version conducted by Krill Karabits and know how it compares to the Salonen conducted version? Any points of view appreciated!
I second the recommendations above for both the Salonen and the Abbado performances of the original Mussorgsky score, even though the Rimsky-Korsakoff version is also very good (and probably the more famous one).
I’ve heard many variations over the years and I usually go back to Stokowski’s version with the LSO (1966) even if it’s Rimsky-Korsakov’s rework. Perhaps it’s because that was the first version I heard, but it seems to work best for my listening pleasure.
This is the version I've listened to by far the most too and I love it but I'm not sure whether it's the Rimsky-Korsakov adaptation or the version Stokowski adapted himself, does anyone know for sure?
In terms of Mussorgsky's original version, has anyone heard the below version conducted by Krill Karabits and know how it compares to the Salonen conducted version? Any points of view appreciated!
Since it will inevitably be used over the next few days for commercials, Halloween specials, etc., I was curious as to your preferences. I’ve heard many variations over the years and I usually go back to Stokowski’s version with the LSO (1966) even if it’s Rimsky-Korsakov’s rework. Perhaps it’s because that was the first version I heard, but it seems to work best for my listening pleasure. Versions by David Lloyd-Jones ("St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain", 1971) and others such as Bernstein seem to slow down too much in mid-stream or mellow out too soon for me.
Ever since I first heard it in 1970 (or so), Night on Bald Mountain performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Georges Prêtre has been the performance that I always compare all other performances to. What do you think?
Since it will inevitably be used over the next few days for commercials, Halloween specials, etc., I was curious as to your preferences. I’ve heard many variations over the years and I usually go back to Stokowski’s version with the LSO (1966) even if it’s Rimsky-Korsakov’s rework. Perhaps it’s because that was the first version I heard, but it seems to work best for my listening pleasure. Versions by David Lloyd-Jones ("St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain", 1971) and others such as Bernstein seem to slow down too much in mid-stream or mellow out too soon for me.
Ever since I first heard it in 1970 (or so), Night on Bald Mountain performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Georges Prêtre has been the performance that I always compare all other performances to. What do you think?
I love the choral version that Mussorgsky incorporated into Sorochintsy Fair, which he called The Lad's Dream. I believe this predates the Rimsky-Korsakov version (if I remember correctly from the liner notes to the recording on the Chandos label, quite a good recording) and that Rimsky-Korsakov mostly based his version on The Lad's Dream. And the original version, which as others described above as more wild and ragged than the cleaner more famous version, is quite good too.
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