Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

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It is the flavour of this Concerto for Orchestra that wins the day. Just sample the subtle portamento that spices the string line at bars 52-3 (2'36'') of the first movement, and the sombre colouring... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 16th May 2005
Catalogue No: 4767255
Label: Philips
Series: Critics' Choice
Length: 66 minutes

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December 2005

Editor's Choice
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Bartók: 3 Village Scenes, BB 87b, Sz. 79

Work length10:34

Branislav Kostka (chorus master)
SLUK Slovakian Folkensemble Choir, Budapest Festival Orchestra
Iván Fischer
Recorded: 1997-06
Recording Venue: Italian Institute, Budapest

1. Wedding

Track length3:45

2. Lullaby

Track length4:21

3. Lad's Dance

Track length2:28

Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123, Sz.116

Work length36:13

Budapest Festival Orchestra
Iván Fischer
Recorded: 1997-06
Recording Venue: Italian Institute, Budapest

1. Introduzione (Andante non troppo - Allegro vivace)

Track length9:44

2. Giuoco della coppie (Allegretto scherzando)

Track length5:58

3. Elegia (Andante, non troppo)

Track length7:08

4. Intermezzo interrotto (Allegretto)

Track length4:16

5. Finale (Pesante - Presto)

Track length9:07

Bartók: Kossuth Symphonic Poem Sz21

Work length19:59

Budapest Festival Orchestra
Iván Fischer
Recorded: 1997-06
Recording Venue: Italian Institute, Budapest

Reviews
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Reviews

2010

It is the flavour of this Concerto for Orchestra that wins the day. Just sample the subtle portamento that spices the string line at bars 52-3 (2'36'') of the first movement, and the sombre colouring near the end of the movement, at 8'58''. Fischer is a dab hand at shaping and inflecting the musical line, and his characterisation of the 'Giuoco delle coppie' – paced, incidentally, at the prescribed crotchet=94 – is second to none. He invests the 'Elegia' with the maximum respectable quota of passion and the 'Intermezzo interrotto' dances to a few added accents and the finale is a riot of sunshine and swirling skirts, except for the mysterious – and notoriously tricky – più presto coda, with its rushing sul ponticello string choirs, which Fischer articulates with great care. One senses that the players are being driven to the very limits of their abilities, which only serves to intensify the excitement.

December 2005

Among recent rivals, only Zoltán Kocsis and his excitingly transformed Hungarian National Philharmonic begin to show comparable insights but not even they can match Fischer and company for keen observation, tingling spontaneity, adrenalin-fuelled virtuosity (the finale's main presto shoots off like a rocket), heartache (unforgettably plangent strings in the Elegia - here, as elsewhere, some tastefully judged portamento proves a boon), wicked humour and attractive local colour...

March 2015

This is a very rewarding disc. It contains what is surely one of the finest recorded accounts of the Concerto for Orchestra while the remainder of the programme is stimulating and valuable. The recorded sound is very good, the notes are serviceable.

Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra

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