Photo: Рузана Ширинян / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, born on March 9, 1839 in Karevo, Pskov Oblast, Russia, was a composer, pianist and librettist. Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky died on March 16, 1881 at the age of 42. Credited works include Boris Godunov, Pictures at an Exhibition and Night on Bald Mountain.
My Take
For me, Mussorgsky is the most lovably raw of the great composers. A member of The Five, he chased an authentically Russian voice rather than polished refinement, and that stubbornness gave us Pictures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain and Boris Godunov, works that feel carved straight from the soul. A former military man who could also play piano, he was gifted yet his life was far from smooth, and his death at forty-two still strikes me as a tragedy. It is precisely the rough edges that make his music pierce so directly, and it moves me every single time.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
- Name (Japanese)
- モデスト・ムソルグスキー
- Reading
- もですと・むそるぐすきー
- Born
- March 9, 1839 – March 16, 1881
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Boar
- Origin
- Karevo, Pskov Oblast, Russia
- Occupation
- composer / pianist / librettist / military personnel / musician
2. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Boris Godunov | — | |
| Notable work | Pictures at an Exhibition | — | |
| Notable work | Night on Bald Mountain | — |
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky born?
Born March 9, 1839.
When did Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky die?
Died March 16, 1881, aged 42.
Where was Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky from?
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was from Karevo, Pskov Oblast, Russia.
What did Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky do?
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky worked as composer, pianist, librettist, military personnel, musician.
What was Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky known for?
Notable works include Boris Godunov, Pictures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain.
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