Modest Mussorgsky drew inspiration from paintings and watercolors to take listeners on an imaginary tour through a gallery with his music. Originally, he composed this piece for solo piano as a tribute to his friend Victor Hartmann, a painter and architect who had died in 1874. However, amid gnomes and witches, castles and gardens, the fantasy of Pictures at an Exhibition only truly blossomed in 1922, with Maurice Ravel’s orchestral transcription. But this program has another, even more surprising transcription in store for us. Accordionist João Barradas continues his quest to expand his instrument’s repertoire and sets out to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, one of the most difficult works in the entire piano repertoire. The accordion will “take flight” in a test of endurance, expressive control, and technical dexterity.

Pictures at an Exhibition | 5th Anniversary of the Ourém Municipal Theater
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

S. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 (trans. for accordion and orchestra by João Barradas)
M. Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. M. Ravel)

Soloist João Barradas accordion
Pedro Neves conductor