Search - Bela Bartok, Claudio Abbado, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: Bartók: Piano Concertos 1 & 2

Good but not the best.

A. F. S. Mui | HK | 07/24/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording was made in 1977 in Chicago.

The digitised sound of the original release isn't the best around and you would not be offered a fully satisfactory set of sonics of these works. In comparison, the Original Series' version of 1960 and 1961 by Anda and Fricsay fare much better both in terms of sound and performance.

Furthermore, this recording, on CD, is of rather short measure by comparison to the stellar version of Anda/Fricsay, which included also the No. 3 concerto.

The view that Pollini is better in modern repertoire is disproofed here. Indeed, he and Abbado do not own the same league of insight in these works as did the two Hungarians, who were none other than students of Bartok himself. The rhythmic sense as well as the highly percussive effects of the pianoforte are mainly missing in the outer movenments, especially the No. 2 Concerto, and the wild and passionate Magyar folk melodies underplayed.

As regards virtuosic abilities, the two pianists are on par. The orchestra in this recordings are competent but not specacular as the BPO.

Performance technique 4 stars; musical style 3.

3.5 STARS."