Search - Sugar, Forrai, Hungarian State Orchestra :: Hunyadi

A pretty effective and enjoyable release

G.D. | Norway | 03/11/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rezso Sugar (1919-1988) was a pupil of Kodály, and the oratorio Hunyadi was his breakthrough. Composed in 1949-52 it is a conservative work strongly influenced by his teacher, classically constructed with separate and set arias, choruses and dramatic recitative movements, in turns dramatic, lyrical and overall epic in construction. If you are looking for anything strikingly original, this is not the right place to go to (apparently the composer became slightly more harmonically adventurous later in life), but this is still a very effective work with many delightful touches, skillfully crafted and orchestrated and based around some strong melodic ideas. In short, it is a work that really deserves to be heard by those who enjoy the choral music of Kodály (and perhaps Dohnanyi) and don't mind the overly patriotic content or style; no masterpiece, perhaps, but a worthwhile encounter nonetheless. The performances are only slightly rough, and dramatic and ferocious enough to make quite an impact. The sound is a little dry, but perfectly acceptable. In short, this is a very recommendable disc for the adventurous, featuring a work that I, at least, am glad to have heard."