Bartók: Four Pieces; Rhapsodies for Violin & Orchestra; Viola Concerto

1. Orchestral Pieces (4), for orchestra, Op.12, Sz. 51, BB 64
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Miklos Erdelyi

2. Rhapsody, for violin & orchestra No. 1, Sz. 87, BB 94b
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Budapest Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Janos Ferencsik

3. Rhapsody, for violin & orchestra No. 2, Sz. 90, BB 96b
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Budapest Symphony Orchestra Conducted by Janos Ferencsik

4. Viola Concerto, for viola & orchestra (completed in 1949 by Tibor Serly), Sz. 120, BB 128
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra with Geza Nemeth
Conducted by Andras Korodi

Customer Reviews:

Nemeth's Bartok performance is incredible!.......2002-10-04

I have owned this recording for over 10 years, and I still enjoy listening to it. Nemeth's interpretation is unmatched in its high quality. His grasp of the Hungarian style is admirable, and his tone quality is beautiful. The balance of the viola and the orchestra is always good, yet convincing unlike many other viola concerto recordings where the viola is unnaturally present. The technically difficult passages seem to flow from Nemeth's hands with ease. It is a wonder why this Nemeth recording isn't more well known among violists, perhaps because he hasn't seemed to promote himself with any other solo recordings, just recordings with his quartet. Based on this one, I wish he would record more viola works. This performance is of the Serly version- and I wouldn't want to hear this concerto any other way. Serly skeptics should hear this one before passing judgement on the quality of the Bartok completion project. A must have for all violists and Bartok lovers!

Kenneth Martinson
Assistant Professor of Viola
Western Illinois University

Music Review: