Bela Bartok: The Wooden Prince/The Miraculous Mandarin

On this CD:

1. The Wooden Prince, ballet in one act for orchestra (A fából faragott királyfi), Sz. 60, BB 74 (Op. 13)
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Philharmonia
Conducted by Neeme Jarvi

2. The Miraculous Mandarin, pantomime in 1 act Op. 19, Sz. 73, BB 82 Suite
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Philharmonia
Conducted by Neeme Jarvi

Customer Reviews:

Dorati's MLP Bartok is Back.......2005-06-08

Those familiar with my reviews on Amazon know of my great love for the Mercury Living Presence series. Equally great is my disgust that so many of these brilliant recordings have been deleted in the last few years! Thankfully, some of these legendary performances are resurfacing as SACD hybrids. However, they are unfortunately now being sold at full-price, despite a competing Living Stereo hybrid series on RCA/BMG being available at midline. In spite of the added expense, I hope this MLP reissue trend will continue, and maybe we'll even see a few items receiving their CD debut in this series.

These Bartok performances by the great Antal Dorati are nothing short of definitive, and have always been among my favorite MLP offerings. While three of these recordings continue to be available in their original CD incarnations -- the Violin Concerto with Menuhin, Miraculous Mandarin and Wooden Prince discs -- the remaining two discs of material have been out-of-print for some time. However, with this box set Dorati's classic Concerto for Orchestra, and Bluebeard's Castle albums are deservedly restored to the catalog. Even better is the fact that the 5CD box sets being reissued have been reasonably priced, however they are not SACD Hybrids. This set and three others (see my reviews) have a total cost cheaper than the original single issue CDs! Once again, Mercury Living Presence lives!

Average customer rating:

a very welcome anthology for modest price
Bartok and Kodaly in hungarian style

Bartók for Orchestra

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
Grieg: Complete Music with Orchestra

ASIN: B0000037B0
Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

The Wooden Prince: Ste, Op.13: Vorspiel-Die Prinzessin
The Wooden Prince: Ste, Op.13: Der Wald
The Wooden Prince: Ste, Op.13: Arbeitslied Der Prinzen
The Wooden Prince: Ste, Op.13: Der Bach
The Wooden Prince: Ste, Op.13: Tanz Des Holzgeschnitzien Prinzen-Nachapiel
Two Portraits, Op.5: I. One Ideal
Two Portraits, Op.5: II. One Grotesque

Tracks:

Music: I. Andante Tranquillo
Music: II. Allegro
Music: III. Adagio
Music: IV. Allegro Molto
Diver: I. Allegro Non Troppo
Diver: II. Molto Adagio
Divert: III. Allegro Assai

Tracks:

Vn Con No.1 (Op. Posth.): I. Andante Sostenuto
Vn Con No.1 (Op. Posth.): II. Allegro Giocoso
Vn Con No.2: I. Allegro Non Troppo
Vn Con No.2: II. Andante Tranquillo
Vn Con No.2: III. Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Romanian Folk Dances: I. The Stick Dance
Romanian Folk Dances: II. Round Dance
Romanian Folk Dances: III. In One Spot
Romanian Folk Dances: IV. The Horn Dance
Romanian Folk Dances: V. Romanian Polka
Romanian Folk Dances: VI. Short And Sweet
Romanian Folk Dances: VII. Short And Sweet
Dance Ste: I. Moderato
Dance Ste: II. Allegro Molto
Dance Ste: III. Allegro Vivace
Dance Ste: IV. Molto Tranquillo
Dance Ste: V. Comodo
Dance Ste: VI. Finale: Allegro
Hungarian Pictures: I. Evening In Transylvania
Hungarian Pictures: II. Bear Dance
Hungarian Pictures: III. Melody
Hungarian Pictures: IV. A Bit Tipsy
Hungarian Pictures: V. Urog Swineherd Dance
Two Pictures: I. In Full Bloom
Two Pictures: II. Village Dance
Romanian Dance: Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

Con: I. Intro: Andante Non Troppo-Allegro
Con: II. Giuoco Delle Coppie: Allegretto Scherzando
Con: III. Elegia: Andante, Non Troppo
Con: IV. Intermezzo Interrotto: Allegretto
Con: V. Finale: Pesante-Presto
The Miraculous Mandarin: Ste

Tracks:

Hary Janos: Ste: Prld/The Fairy/Tale Begins
Hary Janos: Ste: Viennese Musical Clock
Hary Janos: Ste: Song
Hary Janos: Ste: Battle And Defeat Of Napoleon
Hary Janos: Ste: Intermezzo
Hary Janos: Ste: Entrance Of The Emperor And His Court
Dances Of Galanta
Vars On A Hungarian Folksong (The Peacock)

Amazon.com

Some people are frightened by the (mostly) 20th century Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. His colorful orchestration and by turns folksy and angular rhythms and melodies seem to be cut from very exotic cloth. But there's nothing to fear--this six-CD set presents his most popular orchestral music played with authentic flair by the Hungarian State Orchestra: the two violin concerti with the excellent soloist Gerhart Hetzel, the suite from his ballet The Wooden Prince, the Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta, the Concerto for Orchestra, and several other flavorful works. As a bonus, three pieces by his compatriot, Zoltán Kodály are included. A fine introduction to a master composer. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

a very welcome anthology for modest price.......2001-01-06

For many classical music lovers who are not specialists in Hungarian music - and I would count myself among them - this collection of Bartok's orchestral works along with a supplemental Kodaly disc at budget price cannot be too strongly welcomed. The Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra plays with rhythmic finesse and considerable virtuoso skill, and the direction of Adam Fischer is very fine. I will not attempt a comparison between his performances and those of Janos Ferencsik and Arpad Joo among others. The documentation is brief but well written. CD 1 has a playing time of only 39:25, but that should not seriously deter anybody. The tracking and cueing is excellent, as is the digital stereo sound. The reproduction of the painting "Preparing the meal in the wood" by A. Fenyes on the cover is very tasteful. Overall, this is a very satisfying issue.

Bartok and Kodaly in hungarian style.......2000-06-15

This 6 cd box is a very good one if you are looking for a essential Bartok, as a gift you get Kodaly too. Bartok is a master of taking folk songs and translated them to the finest classical music. The quality of recording is very good and we can imagine that the interpretation is accurate since the players are hungarians. There is a tenderness in the orchestra under Mr. Fischer that bring us a light and elegant Bartok instead of a rough one, as we can expect from folkloric music. The Romanian Folk Dances are amazing and you can imagine people dancing in the country. But the best in this collection are the violin concertos. Since I bought this box I listen the concertos many times and it is always a pleasure for soul.

Bela Bartok: The Wooden Prince/The Miraculous Mandarin

Average customer rating:

No review after twelve years?

Bela Bartok: The Wooden Prince/The Miraculous Mandarin

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000AR0
Release Date: 1994-07-26

Customer Reviews:

No review after twelve years? .......2006-06-27

I'm astounded that this magnificent performance of two of Bartók's major ballet scores led by Neeme Järvi with the Philharmonia Orchestra has never been reviewed until twelve years after its release. Perhaps it came out before Amazon really got up and running with its reviews. Whatever the reason, this is the version of these ballets that I reach for most often, probably because they are the ones that are guaranteed to make my flesh crawl as they should. Musical eroticism and death make an uneasy but irresistible mix.

Try it!

Scott Morrison

Bartok Works for Orchestra - Concerto for Orchestra; Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Average customer rating:

Excellent Bartók starter

Bartok Works for Orchestra - Concerto for Orchestra; Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin; Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000001K6A
Release Date: 1992-11-04

Tracks:

Concerto For Orchestra: Introduction: Allegro non troppo
Concerto For Orchestra: Giuoco delle Coppie: Allegretto scherzando
Concerto For Orchestra: Elegia: Andante non troppo
Concerto For Orchestra: Intermezzo interrotto: Allegretto
Concerto For Orchestra: Finale: Presto
Dance Suite: Moderato
Dance Suite: Allegro molto
Dance Suite: Allegro vivace
Dance Suite: Molto tranquillo
Dance Suite: Commodo

Tracks:

Suite From 'The Miraculous Mandarin': The Robbers - B. Bartok
Suite From 'The Miraculous Mandarin': The Girl - B. Bartok
The Mandarin - B. Bartok
Music For Strings, Percussion & Celesta: Andante tranquillo - B. Bartok
Music For Strings, Percussion & Celesta: Allegro - B. Bartok
Music For Strings, Percussion & Celesta: Adagio - B. Bartok
Music For Strings, Percussion & Celesta: Allegro molto - B. Bartok

Tracks:

Divertimento For String Orchestra: Allegro non troppo
Divertimento For String Orchestra: Molto adagio
Divertimento For String Orchestra: Allegro assai
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: Prelude
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: Dance Of The Princess In The Forest
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: Dance Of The Trees
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: Dance Of The Waves
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: The Prince And His Wooden Doll
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: Dance Of The Princess With The Wooden Doll
Suite From 'The Wooden Prince', Op.13: Postlude

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Bartók starter.......2002-01-04

Although at least some of the pieces on this album have better versions available, notably the poerful interprettions of Iván Fisher, there are also far worse, and this isn't one without character. As an introduction to the work of Béla Bartók, it's a must have. The inexpensive 3-disc set is a regular shelf item at B&N. Skrowaczewski's interpretation of Concerto for Orchestra brings out its quirks much more effectively that Dorati's better-known version, and is worth hearing even if you have Fisher's more recent recording (Fisher made two). Some of the other works are reduced to suites, but these edits are common, and I believe done by Bartók himself. I can comfortably say that, unlike some inexpensive Bartók recordings, that if you don't like this album, you probably won't like the better versions that are out there, and if you do like this album, you'll continue to listen to it even if you do get some of the better ones.

Bela Bartok. The Wooden Prince. The Miraculous Mandarin (2 CDs)

Average customer rating:

Bela Bartok. The Wooden Prince. The Miraculous Mandarin (2 CDs)

Manufacturer: Mondo Musica
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000P8VPHE

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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