Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Hungarian Sketches |...

Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Hungarian Sketches | Bela Bartok, Fritz Reiner, ... | Speechless

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Bartók: Concerto f...

	Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Hungarian Sketches Bela Bartok, Fritz Reiner, ... RCA, 1993 average customer review:based on 28 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Indispensable!

These two Bartok works are indispensable to any collection of twentieth-century masterpieces. CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA is Bartok's most popular work. It is quite literally a giant virtuosic "concerto" in which the "soloist" is the whole orchestra. Bartok gives every section of the orchestra a chance to shine and to show off their virtuosity. I read that the jazz theme in the brass in the last movement can be read as a token of gratitude to the Americans, who were advancing on Nazi Germany at the time of the work's composition. Place it up there with Stravinsky's SYMPHONY IN THREE MOVEMENTS (last movement) and Profofiev's Fifth Symphony as a great work written under the impetus of that momentous occasion of victory in World War II. MUSIC FOR STRINGS, PERCUSSION, AND CELESTA is less popular in style than the CONCERTO, but it too is a masterpiece and a piece which one can grow to love. Let it take you on a remarkable sonic journey, from the eerie opening fugue to the ghostly "night music" to the exhilarating finale.

Many other reviewers have praised this recording as one of the definitive versions of these pieces. There is no doubt that all sections of the orchestra are masters of their instruments, and that the strings are on top of the rhythmic difficulties in the MUSIC, while conveying great passion and drama as well. This CD should belong in EVERYONE's collection.

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Speechless

I've listened to Bartok for over 30 years and have greatly admired and loved his Concerto for Orchestra during that time. I've always loved Ormandy's recording with the Philadelphia and still do, but this recording just knocks my socks off!! It's hard to believe that it was made in 1955! Reiner.. the Chicago Symphony.. Lewis Layton (legendary sound engineer during RCA's Golden Age)... it has it all. Get it. You will not be disappointed if you love and appreciate great music

Bartok in all his neurotic hysterical glory

I can't vouch for Chef Devergue's claim about the definitiveness of Reiner's CONCERTO. Because I still haven't heard Boulez's version. But I think it's fair to conclude that Reiner's MUSIC FOR STRINGS is pretty well unsurpassable. (Just like Reiner's version of Hovhaness's MYSTERIOUS MOUNTAIN.) And like Robert Romano said, the fact that it was recorded in the 1950s qualifies it as a technical miracle.

Regarding the ALLEGRO of MUSIC FOR STRINGS: Near the end there's a certain descending 7-note phrase that never fails to crack me up. If you're familiar with MUSIC FOR STRINGS, then you probably know the passage I'm talking about. What a hoot.

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Precision and control.

The recordings of works by Bartok were supposedly made by mid 1950s. What surprised me by first listening is the clarity and the ambience of the recording. Even rivalled by most high quality DDD recordings, I suppose this recording is one of the finest stereo recordings in existence.

Fritz Reiner is supposedly a top-notch taskmaster of orchestras. This recording proves the hype about him. The precision and control is no-nonsense and I recognise the characteristics that of "Reiner" trademark. This is the first recording of Chicago Symphony Orchestra for me that is lead other than Georg Solti and Daniel Barenboim. Chicago's brasses are precise, distinguished, controlled and has unbelievable power that led Chicago Symphony to have the reputation of having the best brasses in the world. No wonder under Solti, I was to believe the hype about Chicago's brasses were nonsense! I am no fan of Bartok, admittedly, but this recording definetely is a gem.

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Unsurpassed Bartok by Reiner/Chicago

This interpretation is without doubt by far the best ever recorded of these Bartok pieces, especially the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.- I doubt whether it will ever be surpassed.- And also the sound is perfect.- A "Must buy"

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6

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