Bela Bartok Alexander Rahbari Marin Alsop - Bla Bartk A Portrait (43 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Bela Bartok, Alexander Rahbari, Marin Alsop
Béla Bartók: A Portrait
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (31) - Disc #1
1. Musettes, for piano (Out of Doors No. 3), Sz. 81/3, BB 89/3
2. From the Diary of a Fly, for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol. 6/142), Sz.107/6/142, BB 105/142
3. Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114: 3. Adagio
4. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 1. Rubato
5. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 2. Andante
6. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 3. Poco rubato
7. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 4. Andante. Scherzo
8. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 5. Allegro
9. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 6. Andante
10. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 7. Allegro
11. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 8. Allegretto
12. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 9. Allegretto
13. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 10. L'istesso tempo
14. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 11. Assai moderato
15. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 12. Allegretto
16. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 13. Poco pi? vivo
17. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 14. Allegro
18. Hungarian Peasant Songs (15) for piano, Sz. 71, BB 79: 15. Allegro
19. Rhapsody for violin & piano No. 1, Sz. 86, BB 94a: Prima parte 'Lass?'. Moderato
20. Rhapsody for violin & piano No. 1, Sz. 86, BB 94a: Seconda parte 'Friss'. Allegretto moderato
21. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Sz. 67, BB 75 (Op. 17): 2. Allegro molto capriccioso
22. Dance Suite (T?ncszvit) for orchestra, Sz. 77, BB 86a: 1. Moderato
23. Dance Suite (T?ncszvit) for orchestra, Sz. 77, BB 86a: 2. Allegro molto
24. Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (6), for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol.6/148-153), Sz. 107/6/148-153, BB 105/148-153
25. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: 3. Scherzo. Alla bulgarese
26. Chorale, for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol. 1/35), Sz.107/1/35, BB 105/35
27. In Dorian Mode, for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol. 1/32), Sz. 107/1/32, BB 105/32
28. In Phrygian Mode, for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol. 1/34), Sz.107/1/34, BB 105/34
29. In Lydian Mode, for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol. 2/37), Sz. 107/2/37, BB 105/37
30. Game with Two Pentatonic Scales, for piano (Mikrokosmos Vol. 4/105), Sz. 107/4/105, BB 105/105
31. Violin Concerto (No. 2) in B minor, Sz. 112, BB 117: 1. Allegro non troppo
Track Listings (12) - Disc #2
1. Contrasts, pieces (3) for clarinet, violin & piano, Sz. 111, BB 116: 2. Pihen? (Relaxation). Lento
2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95, BB 101: 2. Adagio - Presto - Adagio
3. String Quartet No. 5 in B flat major, Sz. 102, BB 110: 1. Allegro
4. The Night's Music (Az ?jszaka zen?je), for piano (Out of Doors No. 4), Sz. 81/4, BB 89/4
5. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 (completed by Tibor Serly): 2. Adagio religioso
6. String Quartet No. 4 in C major, Sz. 91, BB 95: 3. Non troppo lento
7. The Miraculous Mandarin, pantomime in 1 act, Sz. 73, BB 82 (Op. 19): Final scene. She resists no longer - They embrace
8. Violin Concerto (No. 1), Sz. 36, BB 48a: 1. Andante sostenuto
9. Allegro barbaro, for piano, Sz. 49, BB 63
10. Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB 127: 4. Intermezzo interrotto. Allegretto
11. String Quartet No. 6 in D major, Sz. 114, BB 119: 4. Mesto
12. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 (completed by Tibor Serly): 3. Allegro vivace

CD Details

All Artists: Bela Bartok, Alexander Rahbari, Marin Alsop, Antoni Wit, Andras Ligeti, Vermeer Quartet, Radio-Television Belgrade Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Polish Radio and Television National Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jenö Jandó
Title: Béla Bartók: A Portrait
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Naxos
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 4/24/2007
Genre: Classical
Styles: Ballets & Dances, Ballets, Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Concertos, Improvisation, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Instruments, Strings
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 636943820025

CD Reviews

A Great Overview of Bela Bartok.

Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 05/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The great Hungarian composer Bela Bartok was a major musical innovator during the first half of the 20th century. His dense harmonies and progressive rhythms were as pioneering as anything done by Stravinsky or Shostakovich yet Bartok's music was unique, original and stood fully on its very own.

The latest installment of the Naxos label's "Portrait" series focuses on the life and music of Bartok and includes an excellent sampling of his works across two CDs. Excerpts from the famous "Mikrokosmos" as well as his string quartets and his violin and piano concertos are all included here. There are also excerpts from Bartok's most famous orchestral works - the timeless "Concerto For Orchestra" and the "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste".

Like any collection of a well-known composer, there are a few key moments missing here. His ballet "The Miraculous Mandarin" is only represented by a brief two minute excerpt while music from "The Wooden Prince" as well as his sole opera "Duke Bluebeard's Castle" are not included at all. The fact that the latter two works have not yet been released on the Naxos label probably has to do with their absence.

The 82 page booklet that accompanies the set offers a great insight into Bartok's life and musical genius. There are also parts of the text that go into great detail about the music itself. Several historic photos are displayed as well.

With this said, while there are some key elements missing in "A Portrait" of Bela Bartok, this collection is still a great overview of this dynamic composer. This is a great starting point in getting to know the music of Bartok. I also recommend picking up complete recordings of the "Concerto For Orchestra" (the Bernstein Century recording is essential in my opinion), the piano concertos as well as the string quartets."