COMPOSERS: Bartok
LABELS: Philips
WORKS: Piano Concerto No. 1; Piano Concerto No. 2; Piano Concerto No. 3
PERFORMER: Zoltán Kocsis (piano)Budapest Festival Orchestra/Iván Fischer
CATALOGUE NO: 446 366-2 DDD (1984-87)
These fine performances were recorded in the mid-Eighties and issued on three CDs together with Bartók’s early works for piano and orchestra. Putting the three concertos onto one disc makes a lot of sense, especially as the bright, detailed recorded sound is consistent throughout. Kocsis’s ongoing cycle of Bartók’s solo piano music has been much praised, and he brings the same virtues to his concerto performances: his touch is at once rather delicate (like Bartók’s own) yet capable of explosive power when required. And Iván Fischer inspires the orchestra of which he and Kocsis were co-founders to great heights of achievement. Stephen Maddock
Bartok: Piano Concerto No. 1; Piano Concerto No. 2; Piano Concerto No. 3
These fine performances were recorded in the mid-Eighties and issued on three CDs together with Bartók’s early works for piano and orchestra. Putting the three concertos onto one disc makes a lot of sense, especially as the bright, detailed recorded sound is consistent throughout. Kocsis’s ongoing cycle of Bartók’s solo piano music has been much praised, and he brings the same virtues to his concerto performances: his touch is at once rather delicate (like Bartók’s own) yet capable of explosive power when required.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:15 pm