Fricsay: Bartók — Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta & Concerto for Orchestra

Two orchestral masterpieces by Béla Bartók in the discography of Ferenc Fricsay: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz. 106, and the Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116.

Recordings

Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta was recorded at the Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin from 17 to 20 June 1953 with the RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. The Concerto for Orchestra followed on 9–10 April 1957 at the same venue, by then with the ensemble under the name Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

Fricsay and Bartók

Bartók was one of the defining composers in Fricsay’s repertoire. These performances highlight both rhythmic architecture and orchestral colour.

Original label and production

Both performances belong to Ferenc Fricsay’s historical Deutsche Grammophon discography. For the 1957 Concerto for Orchestra, Elsa Schiller, Günter Hermanns, Wolfgang Lohse and Alfred Steinke are documented. For the 1953 Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Helmut Elbl, Fred Hamel, Wolfgang Lohse, Alfred Steinke and Karl-Heinz Westphal are documented.

Available formats

Available as File PCM 44.1kHz • 16bit — CD Resolution.

Tracklist

Bartók — Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz. 106
1. I. Andante tranquillo
2. II. Allegro
3. III. Adagio
4. IV. Allegro molto

Bartók — Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116
5. I. Introduzione. Andante non troppo – Allegro vivace
6. II. Presentando le coppie. Allegro scherzando
7. III. Elegia. Andante non troppo
8. IV. Intermezzo interrotto. Allegretto
9. V. Finale. Presto

Credits

Conductor: Ferenc Fricsay
Orchestras: RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Composer: Béla Bartók
Original label: Deutsche Grammophon
Venue: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin
Edition: Capsa Symphōnĭa — CS618

Explore the Capsa Symphōnĭa collection

What are DSD and DXD?

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is a 1-bit digital encoding system based on pulse-density modulation. DSD64 operates at approximately 2.8 MHz, DSD128 at approximately 5.6 MHz, and DSD256 at approximately 11.2 MHz. Playback requires a DAC or player compatible with the selected DSD rate.

DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) is a very high-resolution PCM format; in the version offered here it operates at 352.8kHz. Originally developed also as a professional editing and post-production environment for very high-resolution workflows, it requires a compatible DAC or player.