Béla Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Divertimento for String Orchestra
- Artist: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
- Number of Discs: 2
- Total time: 89:15
- Label: Rca Red Seal
- SPAR: DDD
- Availability: In stock
- Item #: 5178981
- List Price: $31.96
- Member Price: $23.96
Review
Best-known for his refined performances of Baroque and Classical music, Nikolaus Harnoncourt approaches modernism for the first time in this 2004 CD of {Béla Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Divertimento for String Orchestra}. Refinement is still Harnoncourt's watchword in Music, for his reading is extremely polished and precise, but so cautious as to make the work seem insipid. Missing are the edginess of the dissonant counterpoint in the opening movement, percussive bite in the second, agitation in the "night music" of the third, and gusto in the fourth, all necessary to any successful performance. Harnoncourt holds the work at arm's length, as if he is examining an interesting object rather than expressing the music's intense emotions; and his hesitant tempi undermine any sense of the work's trajectory. The Divertimento fares much better, for Harnoncourt gives it a brusque treatment that is better suited to {Bartók}'s rustic rhythms, and the strings of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe display an impressive range of { imbres} and techniques. The recorded sound is strangely muted on Music, but exceptionally good on the Divertimento. A bonus CD is included with this release, featuring excerpts from other Harnoncourt albums, of which Smetana's Vysehrad from {Má Vlast} is the most substantial and rewarding track. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music GuideRead About This Recording
When a conductor whose initial fame and stature came from leading groundbreaking performances and recordings of works from the Baroque era records works from the twentieth century, the reaction might be one of skepticism. But when the conductor is Nikolaus Harnoncourt, a man who has rapidly become a Society favorite, that skepticism disappears the moment you hear the first notes of the CD.
Bela Bartok (1881-1945) was one of the finest orchestral composers of the pre-war years, and his amazing Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste is an absolutely gorgeous composition. Put atonal twentieth century music out of your mind; this is melodically and rhythmically fascinating and engaging music and it pairs beautifully with Bartok's brilliant Divertimento for String Orchestra.
In both works, Harnoncourt's amazingly precise musicmaking is a tremendous asset. The maestro focuses on the music's clarity and ethereal qualities and he gets great playing from the members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. It is evident that the precision Harnoncourt brought to Baroque music has served him well with this more modern music.
A bonus disc is included in this set, featuring excerpts from music by Haydn, Mozart, Smetana and Bruckner with Harnoncourt leading the Vienna Philharmonic and the Concentus Musicus Wien. As an added treat, the final tracks, which focus on Bruckner's Ninth Symphony, include commentary from Harnoncourt himself about the unfinished composition and the music that fills the missing gaps.
-Jacob Anthony
Quotes
Details that will amaze you. -Classics Today
Contents
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz106; Divertimento for String Orchestra, Sz113.
Bonus disc features excerpts from Haydn: Die Schopfung; Mozart; Requiem; Smetana: Ma Vlast; Bruckner Symphony No. 9 in D minor; commentary from Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Chamber Orchestra of Europe; Vienna Philharmonic; Concentus Musicus Wien; Dorothea Roschmann, Michael Schade, Christian Gerhaher, Vocals; Arnold Schoenberg Chor; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor.
CD Special Features
Nikolaus Harnoncourt's first CD recording of works by Bartok plus a bonus disc featuring music by Haydn, Mozart, Smetana and Bruckner.
Tracks + Soundclips
| Béla Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta; Divertimento for String Orchestra | |||
| 1. |
Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 9:09 |
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| 2. |
Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 7:49 |
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| 3. |
Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 8:05 |
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| 4. |
Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 8:07 |
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| 5. |
Divertimento for string orchestra, Sz. 113, BB 118 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 9:16 |
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| 6. |
Divertimento for string orchestra, Sz. 113, BB 118 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 10:11 |
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| 7. |
Divertimento for string orchestra, Sz. 113, BB 118 by Bartok, Bela Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 7:52 |
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| Disc #2 | |||
| 8. |
Die Schöpfung (The Creation), oratorio, H. 21/2 by Haydn, Franz Joseph Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Tenor (Vocal): Michael Schade Length: 3:16 |
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| 9. |
Die Schöpfung (The Creation), oratorio, H. 21/2 by Haydn, Franz Joseph Choir, Chorus: Arnold Schoenberg Choir Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Soprano (Vocal): Dorothea Röschmann Tenor (Vocal): Michael Schade Baritone (Vocal): Christian Gerhaher Length: 4:29 |
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| 10. |
Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626 by Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Choir, Chorus: Arnold Schoenberg Choir Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 1:55 |
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| 11. |
Vysehrad, symphonic poem (Má Vlast No. 1), JB 1:112/1 by Smetana, Bedrich Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 15:53 |
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| 12. |
A Workshop Concert with Nikolaus Harnoncourt: Bruckner's Symphony No. 9 by Spoken Word Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 1:39 |
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| 13. |
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, WAB 109 by Bruckner, Anton Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt Length: 1:34 |
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Performances
- Performer(s): Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Orchestra), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor)
- Recording location: Stefaniensaal, Graz (Austria)
- Performer(s): Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Orchestra), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor)
- Recording location: Stefaniensaal, Graz (Austria)
- Performer(s): Concentus Musicus Wien (Ensemble), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Michael Schade (Tenor (Vocal))
- Recording location: Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, Austria
- Performer(s): Arnold Schoenberg Choir (Choir, Chorus), Concentus Musicus Wien (Ensemble), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Dorothea Röschmann (Soprano (Vocal)), Michael Schade (Tenor (Vocal)), Christian Gerhaher (Baritone (Vocal))
- Recording location: Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, Austria
- Performer(s): Arnold Schoenberg Choir (Choir, Chorus), Concentus Musicus Wien (Ensemble), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor)
- Recording location: Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, Austria
- Performer(s): Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor)
- Recording location: Musikvereinssaal, Vienna, Austria
- Performer(s): Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part)
- Recording location: Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Austria
- Performer(s): Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor)
- Recording location: Großes Festspielhaus, Salzburg, Austria
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