Bartók: The Orchestral Masterpieces [Import]

Bela Bartok (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: Bela Bartok
• Audio CD (May 31, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Decca Import
• ASIN: B000068Q5U
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,898 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #53 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > General Contemporary
  • #63 in Music > Imports > Classical

Track Listings

1. Concerto For Orchestra

2. Dance Suite

3. Hungarian Sketches

4. Romanian Folk Dances

5. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta

6. Divertimento

7. The Miraculous Mandarin - Suite

Editorial Reviews

This Decca Double Decker release offers world class performances and recordings of Bela Bartok's most famous orchestral works. Having received Grammy awards many times for his Bartok recordings (some of which have been reincarnated and are reissued here), George Solti is recognized as one of the composers foremost interpreters. The Chicago Symphony sounds as mighty and intensely responsive as ever; and Decca's sonics are simply spectacular with remarkable clarity and depth. This is Bartok for the ages.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting!, September 5, 2005

By 

Wayne D. Shen (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bartók: The Orchestral Masterpieces (Audio CD)

I've heard a few different recordings of both the Concerto for Orchestra and Dance Suite by Bartok (and I've also played both of them in an orchestra.) In my opinion, this particular recording, while not the greatest ever, stands out from others because of the intense vigor which is always present, whether simmering beneath the mysterious opening melodies of the Concerto for Orchestra, or the gargantuan glissandos in the Dance Suite. Solti, like Bartok, was Hungarian (and he actually studied piano under him at the Budapest conservatory [which I was fortunate to visit this past summer],) so I think he captures the rustic flavor of the pieces very well, instead of just glossing over the less pretty aspects of the pieces as some orchestras are wont to do. All in all, a record that definitely has you dancing in some places, and staring into space in awe of eternity in others. Part of that is Bartok, and part of it is Solti.

If you haven't heard the Concerto for Orchestra, it's one of the masterpieces of Contemporary Classical music. It's nigh near impossible to describe music in words, so just give it a listen. If you've heard it before, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by this presentation.

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Readings From Solti And The CSO, February 18, 2011

By 

J. Rich - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bartók: The Orchestral Masterpieces (Audio CD)

Sir Georg Solti is, as many already know, one of the great interpreters of Bartok. His way with Bartok is menacing, brutal, and hard-knocking. This isn't to say that he underplays the slower, more introspective sections of the music, because he doesn't, but when it comes time to tear down the house, he's not afraid to do so. Through the years, Bartok has had many great interpreters such as Boulez, Bernstein, Fischer, and Rattle, but there's something so passionate in Solti's readings that I can easily overlook whatever flaws the performances may have. Thankfully, there aren't many, as Solti has the fine Chicago Symphony Orchestra at his disposal.

A few highlights for me were definitely "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta," "Divertimento," "Dance Suite," "The Miraculous Mandarin," and "Hungarian Sketches." I have never been too impressed with Solti's "Concerto for Orchestra." For me, the definitive performance has been Reiner's account on RCA under the same orchestra. Reiner brings out more of the darker elements that sometimes get lost in the score. This little complaint aside, you won't find a better collection of Bartok's more popular orchestral works. All of this in mind, Solti still doesn't clear my mind of Boulez's or Fischer's performances. Luckily in classical music, there's always room for improvement. Who knows who will carry the torch for Bartok after Fischer and Boulez have passed?

As typical with most Decca recordings I've encountered, the audio quality is excellent. Solti's performances aren't the to-end-all readings of these works, but they make a nice supplement to the recordings by the conductors I already mentioned. If you want some fast and furious Bartok, then look no further than Solti. Highly recommended.

Special note: There is also a 2-CD companion set to this collection that brings together Bartok's concerti with Vladimir Ashkenazy on piano and Kyung-Wha Chung on violin with Solti at the helm. These are truly great performances as well.

Bartók: Piano Concertos; Violin Concertos