Bartok’s masterpieces
Recently, I have spent more time with the music of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok than ever before. He led a tough life, even though he experienced some recognition during his lifetime. Very often we hear genuine folk tunes from the Hungarian countryside in Bartok’s compositions. And the rhythmic patterns are always delightful for me, personally.
On this CD we have:
- Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB 127
Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
- Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114
Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen
These are two outstanding performances of Bartók’s greatest orchestral works. The Concerto for Orchestra was Bartók’s last completed work, and it instantly became his most popular one. Esa-Pekka Salonen and the players of the Los Angeles Philharmonic perform this music with great virtuosity.
Sometimes it takes an older performance of a composer’s work to re-experience the thrill of a great piece of music. This is the case with turning to these performances of Bartok’s two great orchestral masterworks: The Concerto for Orchestra, and Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta as beautifully conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the LA Philharmonic. This CD is not only wondrously performed, the sound engineering is superb. The LA Philharmonic plays passionately and intelligently under Salonen’s leadership.
Here is Esa – Pekka Salonen talking about Bartok
Bela Bartok, Esa – Pekka Salonen, Concerto for Orchestra