COMPOSERS: Bartok
LABELS: ASV
WORKS: 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs; Suite, Op. 14; Ten Easy Pieces; Romanian Folk Dances
PERFORMER: Peter Frankl (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: CD DCA 687 Reissue
Those in search of a generously filled disc of Bartók’s best (and best-known) piano music from before 1920 ought to be satisfied with this one. Peter Frankl invests aggressive passages with ferocious, occasionally strenuous energy and projects tender moments characterfully (although I miss a leggiero quality at times). Despite full, resonant, larger-than-life recorded sound, some tinny notes sneak through. But no matter – Frankl’s infectiously untamed way with this music helpfully supplements the poised insights of Zoltán Kocsis on Philips. David Breckbill
Bartok: 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs; Suite, Op. 14; Ten Easy Pieces; Romanian Folk Dances
Those in search of a generously filled disc of Bartók’s best (and best-known) piano music from before 1920 ought to be satisfied with this one. Peter Frankl invests aggressive passages with ferocious, occasionally strenuous energy and projects tender moments characterfully (although I miss a leggiero quality at times). Despite full, resonant, larger-than-life recorded sound, some tinny notes sneak through. But no matter – Frankl’s infectiously untamed way with this music helpfully supplements the poised insights of Zoltán Kocsis on Philips. David Breckbill
Our rating
4
