BELA BARTOK

BELA BARTOK
PIANO CONCERTOS NOS. 1-3 (1994)
320 KBPS

Here is another great deal courtesy of Naxos, the budget label that has the full-priced competition running for cover. Here are Bartók's three spectacular piano concertos, played to a fare-thee-well by accomplished Hungarian artists who know the music as if they were born listening to it (which they probably were). Jenö Jandó has been the "house pianist" for Naxos, recording everything from the complete Beethoven piano sonatas to all of the Mozart piano concertos--and generally very well too. Here, however, he's on home ground. You expect these performances to be special, and Jandó doesn't let us down. The recording is quite fine, too.

Piano Concerto No. 1, Sz 83
1. I. Allegro moderato
2. II. Andante
3. III. Allegro molto
Piano Concerto No. 2, Sz 95
4. I. Allegro
5. II. Adagio - Piu adagio - Presto
6. III. Allegro molto
Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz 119
7. I. Allegretto
8. II. Adagio religioso
9. III. Allegro vivace