Pictures at an Exhibition: Soundscapes on the Organ at Bergson
What if an organ suddenly started painting pictures? In “Pictures at an Exhibition,” the large electronic organ at the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk becomes a sound gallery. As usual, we distribute the sound throughout the room, letting it come from different directions—sometimes even all at once.
At the center is Modest Mussorgsky’s famous cycle “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Originally composed for piano, the work itself is a musical journey through an exhibition: Mussorgsky created it as a musical tribute to his friend, the painter and architect Viktor Hartmann, who died young. You’ll hear an old market square, a stroll through the exhibition, mysterious catacombs, a witches’ dance, and finally the monumental “Great Gate of Kiev.”
This is accompanied by Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise”—a piece that actually has no lyrics at all. Originally conceived as a song for voice and piano, the melody is sung without words: pure, soaring sound.
Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” adds a bold splash of color. The three dances from his revolutionary ballet take us right into the heart of the turbulent hustle and bustle of a Russian fair: the clamor of the fair, puppet shows, dance, the grotesque, and intense emotions all collide. Here, Stravinsky composes music that is positively bursting with energy and movement.
“Pictures at an Exhibition” is a concert for the eyes and ears—even though you don’t have to see the pictures at all. Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, and Stravinsky demonstrate three completely different ways of using music to create images, spaces, and moods. And the grand organ at the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk transforms this into a sonic experience that is not only meant to be heard but to be experienced throughout the entire space.
Cast
Hansjörg Albrecht, organ
Bergson Principal Organist
Program
Modest Mussorgsky
“Pictures at an Exhibition”
Sergei Rachmaninoff
“Vocalise,” Op. 34, No. 14
Igor Stravinsky
Three Dances from “Petrushka”
Admission and Tickets
Doors open at 6:30 pm
Start: 7:00 pm
End: 8:15 pm
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