Bartók: Complete Works for Violin Volume 3: Violin Sonatas and Rhapsodies

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sensitively judged interpretations of the two Sonatas...The Rhapsodies find both players in ebullient form projecting the music with grace and humour and avoiding unnecessary tempo fluctuations. — BBC Music Magazine, November 2013, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 4th Mar 2013
Catalogue No: 9276
Label: Brilliant Classics
Length: 75 minutes

Bartók: Rhapsody for Violin & Piano No. 1, BB 94a, Sz. 86

Work length9:21

$2.00

$2.60

Antal Zalai (violin), Jozsef Balog (piano)
Recorded: 4-6 June 2012
Recording Venue: Brussels Conservatory, Belgium

I. Lassu: Moderato

Track length4:08

$1.00

$1.30

II. Friss: Allegretto moderato

Track length5:13

$1.00

$1.30

Bartók: Violin Sonata No. 2, BB 85, Sz. 76

Work length21:14

$5.00

$6.45

Antal Zalai (violin), Jozsef Balog (piano)
Recorded: 4-6 June 2012
Recording Venue: Brussels Conservatory, Belgium

I. Molto moderato

Track length9:28

$2.00

$2.60

II. Allegretto

Track length11:46

$3.00

$3.85

Bartók: Rhapsody for Violin & Piano No. 2, BB 96a, Sz. 89

Work length11:02

$2.00

$2.60

Antal Zalai (violin), Jozsef Balog (piano)
Recorded: 4-6 June 2012
Recording Venue: Brussels Conservatory, Belgium

I. Lassu: Moderato

Track length4:27

$1.00

$1.30

II. Friss: Allegro moderato

Track length6:35

$1.00

$1.30

Bartók: Violin Sonata No. 1, BB 84, Sz. 75

Work length33:59

$8.00

$10.30

Antal Zalai (violin), Jozsef Balog (piano)
Recorded: 4-6 June 2012
Recording Venue: Brussels Conservatory, Belgium

I. Allegro appassionato

Track length13:01

$3.00

$3.85

II. Adagio

Track length11:08

$3.00

$3.85

III. Allegro

Track length9:50

$2.00

$2.60

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In the first half of the 20th century, Béla Bartók was one of the principal ambassadors of Hungarian music. He was influenced by the folk music of Eastern Europe and strove to break the confines of the traditions of Western Classical music, in order to create harmonies, rhythms and performance practices that were more relevant to his turbulent era. While the two sonatas differ in their relation to the Classical model, the influence of Eastern Europe can be heard in both: the arpeggios at the beginning of No.1 imitate the sound of the Hungarian cimbalom, and there is evidence of Hungarian folk music in its dance‐like finale as well as in the hor lunga‐style melody of the Romanian peasant music in No.2, which recurs several times throughout the piece.

The two Rhapsodies similarly share the influence; the slow ‘Lassú’ movement of No.1, for example, uses an exotic Transylvanian melody followed by a much more cheerful ‘Friss’ movement. Exoticism returns in the ‘Lassú’ of No.2, combined with a hint of melancholy, which is counteracted by the riotous dance of the ‘Friss’ thanks to its improvisatory nature and use of six separate tunes.

The disc features Antal Zalai, praised by Igor Oistrakh as ‘an exceptional violinist who has a perfect technique, beautiful large tone, real musical finesse and maturity as well as a noble personality’.

Joining him is József Balog, one of the most celebrated pianists of his generation and winner of the 2005 Annie Fischer Award.

Reviews

November 2013

sensitively judged interpretations of the two Sonatas...The Rhapsodies find both players in ebullient form projecting the music with grace and humour and avoiding unnecessary tempo fluctuations.

Bartók: Complete Works for Violin Volume 3

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