Customer Reviews

Bartok: Complete Edition

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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This set features every single (known) composition by the great Hungarian master Béla Bartók. From the orchestral works and the choral works to the piano works and the chamber works: Everything is here, including very rare works never before recorded.< Although there are certainly superior performances of singular works, the set, as a whole, is very near a definitive presentation of Bartók's output. Another bonus is that, as far as I can tell, all of the music is performed by Hungarian orchestras and musicians, so you'll get a very authentic Hungarian 'sound'. Especially good is the choral works and piano works, I think. The set also comes with extensive liner notes to each work, and texts to all of the choral works.

Summing up, this set is a must-have for the die-hard Bartók fan.

First, my background in the past 5 years, is 1950's
jazz (Ellington, Monk, Mingus, Miles Davis, Eric Dolphy)
coupled with Jean Luc Ponty, and some 1970's rock like
Frank Zappa (who has a Bartok number of his album
Make a Jazz Noise Here, I believe), and Igor Stravinsky's
lunch box collection, of about 30 CD'sm and Purcell's
boxset, interpreting English Aristocracy numbers.

Secondly, I was familiar with many releases of Bartok
such as on PHILIPS label, and others ... which were

excellent. I just decided to take the plunge, and
congratulate the composer, Bela Bartok for his work,
and technology, musicians, recording specialists
and HUNGAROTON for taking the time to re-release this
on CD's. There was no question the efforts of all
those people, needed rewarding.

Third, the sound is fantastic and sensational (excuse
my excess verbiage)... there's great 3D sound on
my Logitec 5 Piece sound system, incl. the heavy bass
speaker, that ppl can get for $..., for example.

Next, the interpretations ... no disappointments
anywhere, so far, so good. The classic works, such
as the Concerto, or 3 piano pieces, on PHILIPS already,
were very similar. However, the chamber works were
very strong on this Bartok Edition...in fact, the sound
and performances are consistently excellent, as well
as the quality of the instrument (violin) in question...
the actual sound heard from it, suggest quality, quality
and quality.

Therefore, although I've heard maybe 20 percent of
the Edition (30 Cd's approx) so far, it's without question,
a staple edition, next to my Stravinsky lunch box and
my Purcell edition as well, although the latter I tend
to play a lot less frequently than most music.

I recommend this set, without question, to everyone
who can handle the purchase price! If you have family,
friends or need to cool down, relax, reduce the cardiac
blockages, stress level or need some time away from
television, this is the perfect gift.

My title says it all, Bartok is by far one of the most unique composers/creators to walk the paths of this earth. You can't go wrong with listening to any of his works. This complete set is the definite one to get. 10 stars