Imaginary Pictures

Featuring

Kirill Gerstein
Modest Mussorgsky
Robert Schumann

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Robert Schumann, composer of Carnaval, often represented himself in his compositions through two conflicting parts of his personality: the introverted Eusebius and the extroverted Florestan.

Composition History

Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition was inspired by a posthumous exhibition of his friend Viktor Hartmann's works, most of which are now lost.

Performer Biography

Kirill Gerstein, the pianist on this recording, taught himself jazz by listening to his parents' record collection and later studied jazz piano at Berklee College of Music before focusing on classical music.

Recording & Production

The recording features microphones by Schoeps and Sonodore, a Sonodore 508 microphone preamp, and a Digital Audio Denmark AX24 A/D & D/A converter.

Instruments

Pianist Kirill Gerstein performs on a Steinway & Sons D-274 piano, serial number 572794.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in Saal 1 of Funkhaus Berlin Nalepastrasse between November 19 and 22, 2013.

Composer Biography

Modest Mussorgsky, composer of Pictures at an Exhibition, was deeply affected by the sudden death of his friend, artist Viktor Hartmann, at age 39 in 1873.