Cristian Macelaru; WDR Sinfonieorchester - Bartok: The Wooden Prince & Dance Suite

Following their first album for Linn (Dvo?�k: Legends Op. 59, Czech Suite Op. 39), the WDR Sinfonieorchester and Cristian M?celaru pursue the same folk vein with two orchestral works by B�la Bart�k. Based on a rather childish tale (prince, princess, fairies, and of course a happy ending!), the music of the ballet The Wooden Prince � recorded in full here � has all the ingredients of a masterpiece: masterful scoring for large forces, use of musical themes, an effortless amalgam of folk and late-Romantic elements. Composed in 1923 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the merging of the towns of Buda and Pest � alongside commissions by Ern� Dohn�nyi and Zolt�n Kod�ly � the century-old Dance Suite is a six-movement work that has become one of Bart�k's best known compositions. Born in Timi?oara, a short distance from Hungaria, M?celaru can boast an unparalleled understanding of Bart�k, as evident here.