Search - Bela Bartok, Ernst von Dohnanyi, Lawrence Foster :: Dohnanyi: Violin Concerto No. 2; Bartók: Violin Concerto No. 2

A treat and the Original Ending for the Bartok Concerto

Darin Tysdal | Bloomington, MN 55420 | 06/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never really liked the Bartok Violin Concerto No.2 until this performance! Is that because the ending of the work is different? Bartok's first ending was without the violin soloist, but the dedicatee wanted the violin a part of the end, so Bartok rewrote it. Apparently most violinists have abided by this change, as only Kaplan and Pinchas Zuckerman have recorded the original ending (Zuckerman's actually has both versions of the finale in his recording with Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony.) I have not heard the Zuckerman recording, but Kaplan is very good. In fact, every strain of this work, every note means something. Much care is taken over this work. I have always felt that Bartok's form in this work had been rather piecemeal. Here all the seams do not show and everything flows nicely. Kaplan and Foster treat the concerto more lyrically than forcefully, and it works wonderfully. The accompanying orchestra is also very good. The Dohnanyi concerto is also a treat. This is its second recording (there are 3 altogether) and it is an altoghether engaging work, not as serious as the Bartok. In fact, there is a naughty stream of satire and sly humor in the 2nd and last movements, like Dohnanyi's Variations on a Nursery Tune. This CD is recommended with enthusiasm!!"