Search - Bartok, Gatti, Rpo :: Concerto for Orchestra / Divertimento for Strings

Fantastic Bartok Concerto, Divertimento From Gaetti, RPO

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Penguin Guide to Classical Music rates this recording as one of the finest recordings of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. The Concerto, perhaps Bartok's most popular work, was composed during his final period of composing, while he was living in exile in the United States. The score is replete with references to Hungarian folk music, providing a brilliant showcase for all sections of the orchestra. Conductor Daniele Gaetti leads the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a lush, lyrical performance that is brilliantly played by all of the orchestra's sections. The Divertimento for strings was among Bartok's last works composed in Europe prior to his departure for America. Again, Gaetti obtains a brilliant performance from the RPO's string section, yielding a brilliant, warm tone. The sound quality from BMG's recording engineers is absolutely first rate. This splendid CD is now among my favorite recordings of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra; it should be yours too."