The Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and artists from across the South Shore add another chapter to the colorful history of Mussorgsky’s musical masterpiece, Pictures at an Exhibition, through our own “artful music” project of art inspired by music inspired by art. This multi-arts project culminates in a grand exhibit and performance on Opening Night, October 24 in Duxbury’s Performing Arts Center, when the orchestra performs works by Haydn, Copland, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
In six weeks in 1874, Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky wrote a 10-movement suite for piano called Pictures at an Exhibition, inspired by an exhibition of drawings and watercolors by his recently deceased good friend, Victor Hartmann. The suite was so well received that many prominent composers chose to create full orchestrations, including the version written by Ravel that will be performed here. Most of the over 400 drawings and watercolors from the exhibit have been lost over the years, presenting a special opportunity for artists to interpret the music back into various forms of visual art.
Participating artists are members of North River Arts Society, Scituate Art Association, South Shore Art Center, Hull Artists Studio Connection, Quincy Art Association, Inly School kindergarteners, Thayer Academy, and a group of children through the Scituate Library’s Pictures Plus workshop.
Each organization chose one musical movement of Pictures to illustrate; with themes such as The Old Castle, Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks (Inly), Gnomes, The Market at Limoges, and Cattle, the artists were free to let their imaginations soar along with the music. Over 60 artworks, influenced by eight movements of Pictures, will be on display in the Lobby Picture Gallery, and select pieces will be projected behind the orchestra during the concert.
Doors to the Lobby Picture Gallery open at 6:30 pm; conductor Jin Kim gives a pre-concert talk at 7:00, the concert begins at 7:30, and artists, musicians and the audience mingle during the post-concert dessert reception in the gallery.
For more information, program notes, and tickets ($35 Adults, $25 Seniors, $10 youth through age 18), visit www.atlanticsymphony.org, or call 781-740-5694.