Music Chamber

Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition 

Promenade I

Gnomus (Nutcracker in the shape of a grotesque gnome)

Promenade II


Il vecchio castello (The Old Castle in Italy)

Promenade III

The Tuileries Gardens (Children arguing about a game)

Bydlo (A Polish 'farm cart')

Promenade IV

Ballet of the unhatched chicks

"Samuel” Goldenberg and "Schmuyle"


Promenade V

The Market-place at Limoges (Imaginary conversations)

The Catacombs (Roman burial grounds in Paris)


Promenade VI


Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Jaga's hut, a witch from Russian mythology)

The Great Gate of Kiev

 

Mussorgsky composed the work in commemoration of his friend, the artist and architect Viktor Hartmann. A posthumous exhibition of over 400 of the artist’s works was mounted in the Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg in 1874. Pictures at an Exhibition takes the form of an imaginary musical tour around such a collection. As the pictorial basis for his musical exhibition, Mussorgsky mostly selected drawings and watercolours that Hartmann had produced during his travels abroad though we cannot in all cases be certain which Hartmann work Mussorgsky was alluding to, because not all the paintings and drawings have survived. Despite his alcoholism, Mussorgsky finished this masterpiece a month and a half after having viewed the tribute to Hartmann. A sufferer of delirium tremens, Mussorgsky would die at age forty-two, just seven years after composing Pictures. 

 

Mitra Alice Tham, MM, PGDipRAM, B Mus.(Hons), FLCM, LLCM, LRAM, LMusA, ATCL gave her first public performance was at the age of three and she made her first international debut at the age of eight in Japan. Mitra has been a prizewinner at many international competitions held in the Far East, Europe and in the United Kingdom. Her prizes include the Rosario-Marciano Preis for the most eminent artist personality and the Russischer Musikpreis for the best interpretation of Russian music. Mitra has performed extensively in Asia, Europe, United States and the United Kingdom. She has exhibited her special talent - composing impromptu on stage on given musical phrases from members of the audience. She has also been featured on television throughout Asia. She received the coveted title ‘The Excellent Player Award’ at the prestigious Asia Oceania Festival held in Thailand and won the ‘Young Millennium Pianist’ of Singapore. Mitra has performed to dignitaries, The Prince of Wales and the late President of Singapore. She was specially chosen by the Purcell School to compose instantly on a musical phrase given by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. This instant composition was aired on the national radio on the same evening and was featured in the London papers - her performance being described as ‘brilliant and excellent’ by Prince Charles. She orchestrated this ‘royal’ composition and the piece was selected for a special performance at the Duke’s Hall, London. Mitra was selected to perform for the Singapore President Charity Concert. Her performance was highly commended by the President and Singapore national papers. Mitra is a diverse musician. She is a skilled composer and arranger, and recent commissions have included a transcription of ‘The Entertainer’ and other famous works for piano quintet and choir and other various ensembles. Mitra gave the London premier of Leroy Anderson’s Piano Concerto to a sold-out concert in 2005. The Classical Music wrote “…. Tham’s flying about the piano with great bounce and gusto”. Mitra was a student of Patsy Toh when she was at the Purcell School and the Royal Academy of Music. She was a recipient of the Purcell School, Singapore Lee Foundation, Singapore National Arts Council scholarships, Shaw Foundation, the ‘Gifted Young Musicians’ bursary awarded jointly by the National Arts Council of Singapore and Rotary Club, Singapore and The Chiron Trust, UK.  She was a scholar at Mannes School of Music in New York City where graduated her Master’s degree, studying with the late distinguished Cuban-American pianist Jacob Lateiner. Mitra was awarded the Blüthner scholarship to study at the International Sommer Musikakademie in Leipzig, during which she performed at the Göhliser Schloßer and at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig. For two consecutive years she was awarded a scholarship by the Mozarteum Universität and was selected to perform at the Mozarteum Universität. Mitra was awarded a full scholarship to attend the 33rd International Workshop of the America Institute of Music Society - AIMS held at Graz, Austria. Mitra has just finished performing the complete Prokofiev Sonatas in a 3-concert series in London in 2010.  She will be playing Prokofiev Piano Concerto no.3 with Richmond Orchestra in March 2012.

More information can be found on her website: www.mitraalicetham.com