James Zehm wrote: > What is it like then? Does it beat Leo Funteks unfortunate orchestration? I'm afraid that I don't know this version, but as an alternative to the Ravel I think it works very well. While Ravel shows his mastery of orchestration in his version of 'Pictures', I found the Gortchakov to bring out the 'Russianess' of the music that Ravel's lacks. It is a much darker orchestration and from my own point of view a much easier one to play - especially the "Limoges" (Ravel's is often used for violin auditions). I have played the Ravel on a number of Youth Orchestra tours and/or camps and found the Gortchakov to be a different and refreshing change to what had become (for me) a so-so piece. Matthew Gillett