Modest Mussorgsky's 1874 memorial to his friend, the painter Viktor Hartmann, was a work ahead of its time. It's fantastical – the paintings referred to include Ballet of the unhatched chicks and The Catacombs. But it's also blunt in ways that can still alienate players and listeners who want a musical finish of greater finesse. Paul Lewis (who plays late Beethoven at the NCH on February 25th) may not please those listeners. His directness of approach is heightened by the in-your-face closeness of the recorded sound. But I found myself liking the way the resulting rawness highlights the originality of the music. Lewis's big-boned style makes parts of the Schumann Fantasy sound cluttered, though he does melt persuasively in the dreamy finale. harmoniamundi.com