The value of this CD should be self-evident, since it has garnered critical praise ever since its first release in 1992. Even so, listeners unfamiliar with
Béla Bartók's rich piano music or
Zoltán Kocsis' splendid reputation may need further reassurance. First, these pieces represent the fertile period that began in 1908, when
Bartók melded the influences of
Strauss, Liszt, and Hungarian folk music into a new and vital musical language, which would thence forward distinguish him as one of the greatest modernists, along with
Stravinsky and Schoenberg. Second,
Bartók's works have seldom been played as imaginatively or as subtly as they are here, and
Kocsis has earned his fame as a leading interpreter of the composer, imparting energy, freshness, and depth to this music that few can match. Third, and especially gratifying for a reissue, the liner notes include András Wilheim's insightful essay, "A Time of Manifold Possibilities," which provides historical context and clear descriptions of
Bartók's works. So these criteria should be persuasive, but listening to this excellent disc will be final proof of its worth. Philips offers excellent recording quality, and
Kocsis' performances have full color, natural resonance, and an almost palpable presence.