Customer Reviews

Bartók: Out of Doors

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The repertoire of this record is the principal reason of my interest in this CD . "Out of Doors" is one of the most important piano works of the 20th century. In my opinion these five pieces are the most important piano work of Bela Bartók. They were written at Bartok's creative peak( 1926) .Specially the fourth, The Night's Music, is a remarkable achievement . Over a non tonal cluster we have echoes of folk rhythms and melodies . The title of this music gave the "label" of some of the most characteristic works of Bartók, specially his slow movements like these from the Music for Strings Celesta and Harp, The Fourth and Fifth String Quartet , etc.
The inspired Four Dirges opus 9a and the interesting Three Burlesques opus 8c are works from the first important creative period of the author. Pity that they are so seldom played . Specially the Dirges : here we have a very expressive and original studies of resonances and sonorities. It is interesting to remain that the second Dirge and the second Burlesque ( Slightly Tipsy) would be orchestrated (together with other easy piano works) by the author in a Suite called Hungarian Sketches .
The Allegro Barbaro , from the same period ( 1911) is the only well know work of the record. The other three works, the Romanian Dances, the Ten Easy Pieces and the Hungarian Folktunes are specially rare in records.
There exists very good recordings of these works, specially those by Zoltan Kocsis and Gyorgy Sandor . But the Hungarian pianist Jeno Jandó is no less interesting than his predecessors . His approach of the most important work of the CD, the Suite Out of Doors, is remarkable. The sonorities he obtains in all five pieces, even in the more percussive , are rich and beautiful . I never heard "The Night Music" so well played.
I recommend this record not only because of the repertoire's high interest, but also for the splendid art of this intelligent pianist.

This is the third in the slowly-emerging series of what appears to be all of Bartók's piano music - solo, chamber, concerted - with Jeno Jandó as the pianist. I was modestly pleased with his concerto recording, more so with the chamber music recording that featured the early Quintet and the special piano/violin 'Rhapsodies' featuring the wonderful György Pauk, violin. I didn't get the Vol. 1 of the solo music, but do like the Vol. 2 that includes the Roumanian Folk Dances (the first Bartók I ever played myself more than fifty years ago!). That issue was OK but doesn't come close to those of Zoltán Kocsis or András Schiff.

This CD contains lesser known music except for the 'Out of Doors' Suite and the 'Allegro Barbaro.' The Suite, I must say, seems a bit underpowered, restrained. It seems too civilized, especially in 'With Drums and Pipes.' 'Night Music,' though, is very atmospheric and 'The Chase' builds up a real head of steam. Still, I prefer the extroversion of Kocsis and Steven Kovacevich.

As for the rest of the disc, much of it is taken up with fairly minor stuff, some of it written for children to play including the 'Ten Easy Pieces' of which (on Pearl) there is an endearing old recording of Bartók himself playing two of the pieces.

The one standout in this issue is the 'Allegro Barbaro' which really sizzles. And then there are the 'Three Burlesques,' Op. 8c, Sz. 47, which I don't remember hearing before (although I see it is included in the Kocsis complete set which I don't own). I think they're wonderful! The first, 'Quarrel,' depicts two lovers (?) quarreling, making up, quarreling again. 'A Little Tipsy' is just that; there are hilarious little crushed arpeggios that reel and sway, really capturing the unsteady progress of a drunk trying to make his way along the path. The final piece of the set is simply marked 'molto vivo, capriccioso' and is a humorous finish to the disc. Jandó does all three proud.

All in all, I don't think I can recommend this CD unless one is on a tight budget and really needs to hear one or the other of the mentioned well-played pieces here. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

TT=60:13

Scott Morrison