Search - Bela Bartok, Skrowaczewski, Minnesota Orchestra :: Bartok Works for Orchestra - Concerto for Orchestra; Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Excellent Bartók starter

Scott Andrew Hutchins | Bronx, NY, USA | 01/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although at least some of the pieces on this album have better versions available, notably the poerful interprettions of Iván Fisher, there are also far worse, and this isn't one without character. As an introduction to the work of Béla Bartók, it's a must have. The inexpensive 3-disc set is a regular shelf item at B&N. Skrowaczewski's interpretation of Concerto for Orchestra brings out its quirks much more effectively that Dorati's better-known version, and is worth hearing even if you have Fisher's more recent recording (Fisher made two). Some of the other works are reduced to suites, but these edits are common, and I believe done by Bartók himself. I can comfortably say that, unlike some inexpensive Bartók recordings, that if you don't like this album, you probably won't like the better versions that are out there, and if you do like this album, you'll continue to listen to it even if you do get some of the better ones."