Composer: Béla Bartók
Performer: Špela Mastnak, Yuka Ohta, Max Riefer, Stephan Böhnlein, Martin Frink, Jochen Ille, Michael Gärtner
Orchestra: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie
Conductor: Pietari Inkinen
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: SWR Music
Catalogue: SWR19110CD
Release: 2022
Size: 681 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Divertimento for String Orchestra, Sz. 113
01. I. Allegro non troppo
02. II. Molto adagio
03. III. Allegro assai
Mikrokosmos, Vol. 6, Sz. 107 (Arr. B. Wulff for Percussion Ensemble)
04. No. 149, 6 Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm
Out of Doors, Sz. 81 (Arr. B. Wulff for Percussion Ensemble)
05. IV. The Night’s Music
06. Allegro barbaro, Sz. 49 (Arr. B. Wulff for Percussion Ensemble)
Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106
07. I. Andante tranquillo
08. II. Allegro
09. III. Adagio
10. IV. Allegro molto
Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (1936) enjoyed right from the beginning a roaring success, being praised by critics as a masterpiece. It was also the composer’s last work published by Universal-Edition in Vienna. A fierce opponent of National-Socialism, he stopped co-operating with his main publisher soon after. The Divertimento (1939), though definitely not a “lightweight”, does hardly give any indication of the political circumstances and events at the time it was created.
The piano works on the present recording, arranged for percussion ensemble, are in their original form miniatures whose strong rhythms almost predestinate them for percussion arrangements (Bartok himself experimented extensively with percussion instruments and was familiar with them).
Pietari Inkinen is one of the noted rising stars on the international conducting scene. His comprehensive experience in both opera and symphonic repertoire enable him to shape various repertoire into powerful, convincing interpretations. As chief conductor of the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, he achieved superb performances.