Bartok: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3

Bronfman (Artist), Bartok (Composer), Salonen (Conductor), Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Salonen
• Composer: Bartok
• Audio CD (December 12, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AWA
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,460 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95, BB 101: I. Allegro

2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95, BB 101: II. Adagio-Presto-Adagio

3. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95, BB 101: III. Allegro molto

4. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 (completed by Tibor Serly): I. Allegretto

5. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 (completed by Tibor Serly): II. Adagio reglioso - poco piu mosso - tempo I

6. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 (completed by Tibor Serly): III. Allegro vivace

7. Piano Concerto No. 1 in A major, Sz. 83, BB 91: I. Allegro

8. Piano Concerto No. 1 in A major, Sz. 83, BB 91: II. Andante

9. Piano Concerto No. 1 in A major, Sz. 83, BB 91: III. Allegro

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

This is the recording of Bartók's piano concertos the world has been waiting for. Yefim Bronfman conquers not only the tremendous technical difficulties of the music, but also the widely varying moods, from the violence of the First Concerto through the otherworldly calm of the Third. Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic through the extremely difficult orchestral writing without a misstep, contributing his own powerful impulse to the music while seconding Bronfman's ideas. The recording is nearly ideal in its clarity, balance, and dynamics. It's hard to find a more satisfying CD of any music in the current catalogs. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb technique, beautiful music, June 30, 2000

By 

Eric Brinkmann (Palo Alto, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bartok: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3 (Audio CD)

Yefim Bronfman is certainly one of the greatest living pianists, and the results here are magical. The three Bartok concertos are known as among the most technically difficult piano concertos ever written, yet Bronfman has everything in control here. The toccata-like movements gleam with precision and the slow movements have just the right kind of beauty. Forget Rachmaninoff. These are the great piano concertos of the 20th century.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Total Involvement for Bartók's Progression of Concerti, October 1, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bartok: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3 (Audio CD)

Having recently praised the beauties of the Pierre Boulez recording of the three Bartók piano concertos each with a different orchestra and soloist (Zimmerman, Grimaud, Andsnes), returning to this wholly satisfying CD with Yefim Bronfman at the keyboard and Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic traversing these miraculous concerti is grounding. No hype here, just brilliant music making.

Bronfman has these three works so melded into his psyche that he makes the challenges sound simple and pulls the angst and romance of the slow movements into such pure and clear resonance with the orchestra that the result is transcendent. Salonen doesn't just conduct this fine orchestra: he collaborates with not only the soloist but also with each first desk player who has solo lines and then with the lush tutti sounds for which this orchestra is known.

In short, this is as fine a performance of I, II, and III of Bartók as any coupling on record. Indispensable Bartók! Grady Harp, October 05

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars powerful piano and rich orchestral playing., February 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Bartok: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3 (Audio CD)

4.5 stars! This record is worth getting just for the interesting things, possibly by accident, that happen on the recording. First of all, the LA phil is really improving...the brass and wind playing is excellent and Sallonen's leadership over the group is proving itself to be top-notch. Bronfmann's playing is strong, confident, and amazingly clear...the Second Piano COncerto has an energy to it that sounds completely original and unabashed. But interestingly, there are moments when Bronfmann lifts the pedal or holds on to his notes a little too long--but it is a great effect....and undoubtedly intentional. Just listen to the second movement of the Second Concerto and you will know what I mean. Too hard to explain here. You could buy the record just for this reason! Hats off to Bronfmann.