Bartok Chamber Music

[Tyson]

I've been listening a lot to Bartok, particularly the violin sonatas, and I'm slowly growing to love the music. What I love about Bartok's chamber music, is it's ability to stradle modern, dissonant sounds, with an intense emotional core. Joy, pain, passion, madcap humor, it's all there, along with a bunch of wonderfully weird sounds. I have three recordings of both sonatas, one by Pauk, one by Faust, and one by Tetzlaff. Pauk is the most intensely emotional, almost Romantic in his interpretation. His violin simply wails. Faust is the most modern, a bit removed, but an icy perfection and perfectly caught modern disconnect, while Tetzlaff is right between them. Tetzlaff is my favorite because he captures more of Bartok's total sound than Faust or Pauk.

Anyone else know/love these pieces, or any other Bartok chamber music?

 

[mikeg]

I haven't heard any Bartok chamber music, but now you've gotten me interested in it. Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[FalconP]

You simply can't miss out on Bartok's 6 string quartets! These wonderful pieces of music cannot be described in simple terms -- dissonant, yes; frenzied propulsion, yes; satire, it's there too. But what I find especially touching is the thin veil of bitterness and sadness that haunts some of the slow movements.

The version by the Tak塶s Quartet on Decca is probably the most famous. I don't have this set though (it is full price). The budget set by the Novak Quartet (Philips Duo) is still excellent.

 

[Tyson]

Yes, the string quartets are pretty amazing. I've got the Takacs, the Emersons, and the New Budapest sets, and I just picked up the old Tokyo set on RCA. Right now I like the Emersons the best, they are the most modern and strange sounding, and their interpretations hold together extremely well. I'll report back on the Tokyo set when I've gotten a few listens under my belt.

 

[calaf]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson I'll report back on the Tokyo set when I've gotten a few listens under my belt.

Tyson, if you like the Emerson set I am pretty sure you'll like the Tokio set too. It is a very edgy, technically superb interpretation: no Takacs warmth there! OTH the one I have (on LP) was from DG not RCA. I wonder if they are the same...

Stretching the definition of chamber music a bit I wonder if you have heard Bartok solo piano works. I have a couple of collections: the oldest one is from DG with Andor Foldes playing. It may be out of catalog, as I can't find it in any of the usual web sites. In any event the other one from Zoltan Kocsis on Philips is IMO better. I am pretty sure this reissue
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3086299
is the same one I have. Best contemporary piano music I have heard save perhaps this wonderful Ligeti collection
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...149271-4563366

 

[Tyson]

I have the Sandor set of Bartok solo music, I've not been impressed with it. I've been meaning to pick up Kocsis' discs, your post just put me over the edge to order them

 

[DanG]

I have the Emerson and Julliard versions and have heard the Takacs on disc and live. My favorite is the Emerson -- the Julliard I simply did not enjoy. The Takacs lacks the emotion of the Emerson.

If you like the Bartok quartets the logical next exploratory step would be to listen to the Shostakovich quartets. What I most love about Bartok's quartets -- the intensely intellectual portrayal of emotion, especially despair and a sort of cynical humor -- is quite characteristic of Shostakovich's work as well. Shostakovich was also much more prolific than Bartok with 15 string quartets and a wonderful piano quintet as well. I managed after much searching to find the Borodin Quartet's full cycle on EMI but it is no longer in print. It can be bought from the BMG music club for around $100 plus shipping (which would end up being around $130) or you can check on Audiogon (where I picked up mine) or Amazon's used discs. The cycle should go for around $50 used. I believe some of the quartets are still in print in newer editions of newer performances, but StuartR (where are you man?) was the one that pointed me to the Russian performances.

I'm sorry to say I haven't heard other ensembles' renditions but the Borodin recordings are simply fantastic.

 

[bwu]

"Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta" is my favorite.

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyson Tetzlaff is my favorite because he captures more of Bartok's total sound than Faust or Pauk.

And accompanied in awesome fashion by Leif Ove Andsnes.

It's too bad that you aren't in NYC. They have been playing up a storm in Zankel Hall for the Andsnes Project.