Search - Bela Bartok, Leo Weiner, Neeme Järvi :: Béla Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19 (Complete) / Leó Weiner: Hungarian Folkdance Suite, Op. 18 - Neeme Järvi

Not a classic recording... sorry!

Dave Langton | 07/30/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Bartok's Mandarin, a savage, lurid, wildly imaginative score, has finally established itself. For decades, the truncated Suite was performed and recorded more frequently than the full 30-minute ballet, but that situation has changed. There are now over a dozen recordings of the complete work on CD. Some are outstanding.
Some are only partially successful...Jarvi pushes the Mandarin to extremes - the slower moments are atmospheric and expressive, the brutal climaxes are often spectacular. The recorded sound and orchestral playing are impressive, but the even the brilliant Philharmonia can't always keep up with Jarvi's frenetic tempi, and are sometimes caught out by his sudden gear changes. The Chase, in particular, really is a mess. There is so much to admire in this recording, but Abbado (DG) and, above all, Ivan Fischer (Philips), prove that a slightly more controlled approach can make this score more terrifying - and far more musically satisfying. Fischer's recording is quite astounding, by the way, and is coupled with Bartok rarities. Jarvi's coupling, Weiner, is pleasant but a bit dull."