Bartók The Pianist – Audio CD (2016) / Béla Bartók Playing the Piano (2 Discs)

Product Information

• UPC: 5991813279026
• Label / Catalog Number: Hungaroton – HCD32790-91
• Format: Audio CD, 2 Disc Set (Stereo)
• Country: Made in EU
• Released: 2016
• Genre: Classical
• Performer: Béla Bartók (as Pianist)

Overview

English Overview:
"Bartók The Pianist" is a remarkable 2-disc audio CD edition that presents the historic piano performances of Béla Bartók (1881–1945). These recordings, immortalizing Bartók as both a composer and a concert artist, serve as an inexhaustible source of inspiration and insight not only for musicologists, composers, and performing artists but also for the wider public. As a concert pianist active from 1904 for four uninterrupted decades, Bartók’s interpretations provide a nuanced glimpse into early 20th-century European performance practices, particularly during the interwar period. Notably, from 1908 onward, he increasingly performed his own compositions, thereby offering a direct perspective into his creative genius and stylistic evolution. Above all, his piano playing radiates an uncommon blend of humanism, deep musicality, and a perfect balance between honoring tradition and embracing progressiveness. This centenary edition by Hungaroton, originally released in 1981 and now distilled into a refined collection 35 years later, captures the emotional, technical, and intellectual essence of Bartók’s artistry.

Hungarian Overview (Áttekintés):
"A Bartók zongorajátéka" egy figyelemre méltó, 2 lemezes hangfelvétel-összkiadás, amely bemutatja Bartók Béla (1881–1945) történelmi zongorajátékát. Ezek a felvételek – amelyek nemcsak zeneszerzőként, hanem koncertzeneként örökítik meg Bartók személyét – kiapadhatatlan forrást jelentenek a muzikológusok, zeneszerzők, előadóművészek, és a szélesebb zenekedvelő közönség számára egyaránt. Bartók, aki 1904-től négy évtizeden keresztül folyamatosan lépett fel, előadásain keresztül árnyalt képet ad a századelő, különösen a két világháború közti európai előadói gyakorlatokról. Különösen jelentős, hogy 1908 után egyre gyakrabban játszotta saját kompozícióit, így közvetlen bepillantást engedve zeneszerzői géniuszába és stíluskorai fejlődésébe. Legfontosabb talán az, hogy zongorajátékában egy olyan humanizmus és mély zenei szeretet, valamint a tradíció tisztelete és a progresszivitás tökéletes egyensúlya figyelhető meg, amely páratlan az irodalomban. A Hungaroton 1981-es centenáriumi hangfelvétel-összkiadását követően ez a jelenkiadvány, három és fél évtizeddel később, egyfajta sűrítménnyel, érzelmi és gondolati esszenciával mutatkozik be.

Product Features

Musical & Structural Details

• Performer & Historical Value:
  The CD captures the authentic piano interpretations performed by Béla Bartók himself. These recordings not only document his evolution as a concert artist over four decades but also provide a rare insight into the European performance practices of the early 20th century.

• Artistic Significance:

  • Direct Interpretation: Bartók frequently performed his own compositions from 1908 onward, allowing listeners a direct encounter with his artistic vision.
  • Humanism & Musicality: His playing is imbued with extraordinary humanism, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity in an unmatched manner.

Disc Breakdown

Disc 1 – A Journey Through Bartók’s Piano Works

1. Allegro barbaro, Sz. 49 – 2:20
2. 10 Easy Pieces, Sz. 39:Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56 – 4:48
   • No. 5, Evening in Transylvania –
   • No. 10, Bear Dance – 4:07
4. 2 Romanian Dances, Op. 8a, Sz. 43:
   • No. 1, Allegro vivace – 4:02
5. 14 Bagatelles, Op. 6, Sz. 38:Suite, Op. 14, Sz. 62 – 7:49
   • No. 2, Allegro giocoso
     &
     3 Burlesques, Op. 8c, Sz. 47:
   • No. 2, A Bit Drunk – 2:46
7. 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs, Sz. 71, Old Dance Tunes:
   (Selected movements: No. 7 Allegro, No. 8 Allegretto, No. 9 Allegretto, No. 10 L'istesso tempo, No. 12 Allegretto, No. 14 Allegro, No. 15 Allegro) – 4:20
8. Piano Sonatina, Sz. 55 – 3:42
9. Petite Suite, Sz. 105 – 7:10
10. 3 Hungarian Folk Tunes, Sz. 66b – 3:49
11. For Children, Sz. 42, Book 1:
    (Highlights include: No. 3 Quasi adagio, No. 4 Pillow Dance, No. 6 Study for the Left Hand, No. 10 Children's Dance, No. 12 Allegro) – 4:28
12. For Children, Sz. 42, Book 1 (Continued):
    (Highlights: No. 13 Ballade, No. 15 Allegro moderato, No. 18 Soldier's Song, No. 19 Allegretto, No. 21 Allegro robusto) – 4:09
13. Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107:
    (Selections: No. 100 In the Style of a Folksong, No. 142 From the Diary of a Fly, No. 140 Free Variations) – 3:34
14. Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107 (Continued):
    (Selections: No. 133 Syncopation, No. 149 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm II, No. 148 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm I) – 4:11
15. Mikrokosmos, Sz. 107 (Additional Selections):
    (Selections: No. 94 Tale, No. 152 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm V, No. 153 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm VI) – 4:00
16. Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, Op. 20, Sz. 74:
    (Highlights include varied tempos and moods from Molto moderato to Allegro) – Duration as per track listing

Disc 2 – A Diverse Exploration of Bartók’s Keyboard Compositions & Folk Music Settings

1. Keyboard Sonata in G Major, Kk. 427 – 1:03
2. Keyboard Sonata in A Major, Kk. 212 – 1:43
3. Keyboard Sonata in A Major, Kk. 537 – 1:26
4. Keyboard Sonata in B♭ Major, Kk. 70 – 1:38
5. 8 Klavierstücke, Op. 76: No. 2, Capriccio in B Minor – 3:06
6. Magyar népzene, Book 2: No. 7, Cockricoo! – 2:44
7. Magyar népzene, Book 2: No. 8, The Heartless Wife – 2:56
8. Magyar népzene, Book 2: No. 9, The Weeping-Willow – 2:52
9. Magyar népzene, Book 4: No. 20, The Cricket's Wedding – 2:31
10. Magyar népzene, Book 4: No. 21, In the Forest – 2:57
11. Magyar népzene, Book 7: No. 42, Rákóczi’s Lament – 3:46
12. 8 Hungarian Folksongs, Sz. 64:
    (Selections: No. 1 Snow-White Kerchief, No. 3 Women, Women, Listen) – 2:34
13. 8 Hungarian Folksongs, Sz. 64 (Continued):
    (Selections: No. 2 Coldly Runs the River, No. 5 If I Climb the Rocky Mountains) – 2:24
14. 8 Hungarian Folksongs, Sz. 64 (Additional Selections):
    (Selections: No. 6 All the Lads to War, No. 7 Spring Begins with Labour, No. 8 Snow Is Melting) – 3:48
15. 7 Pieces from Mikrokosmos, Sz. 108:
    (Selections: No. 2 Chord & Trill Study, No. 5 New Hungarian Folksong, No. 6 Chromatic Invention) – 3:24
16. Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin & Piano, Sz. 86 by József Szigeti – 9:07
17. Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56 (Arr. Z. Székely for Violin & Piano) by József Szigeti – 5:17
18. Contrasts, Sz. 111 by Benny Goodman – 17:01
19. Années de pèlerinage, Book 3, S. 163:
    (No. 7, Sursum corda) by Béla Bartók – Duration as per track listing

Interesting Facts

• Unparalleled Historical Insight:
  These recordings not only document Bartók’s virtuosic piano artistry over four decades but also serve as a window into the evolving performance practices of early 20th-century Europe, especially in the period between the World Wars.

• Composer-Performer Duality:
  As both composer and performer, Bartók’s interpretations of his own works furnish listeners with unique evidence of his creative process and stylistic innovations, deepening our understanding of his musical legacy.

• Emotional and Technical Depth:
  Bartók's piano playing on these discs is renowned for its blend of technical brilliance, expressive nuance, and a notable balance between reverence for established traditions and a forward-looking progressive spirit—a quality that remains largely unmatched internationally.

Publishers & Credits

• Record Company: Hungaroton
• Title: Bartók The Pianist
• Release Year: 2016
• Format: 2-Disc Audio CD
• Conductor/Performer: Béla Bartók performing on the piano
• Manufacturing: Made in EU
• Additional Credits: Detailed track information and liner notes provide further context on historical recordings and Bartók’s interpretative legacy.

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Hashtags

English:

#BartokThePianist #HungarotonCD #BartokRecordings #ClassicalPiano #HistoricalPiano #BartokLegacy #20thCenturyMusic #PianoArtistry #CollectorEdition #MusicalHeritage

Hungarian (Címkék):

#BartókZongorajátéka #HungarotonCD #BartókFelvételek #KlasszikusZongora #TörténelmiZongora #BartókÖrökség #XXSzázadiZene #ZongoraMűvészet #Gyűjteménykiadás #ZeneiÖrökség