The Miraculous Mandarin, Béla Bartók (Part 1)

[dakwa1]

As much as I love this piece, without the stage performance, it will always have a lacking appeal. This piece was so very much written to be performed in two levels, that in just one, it is not complete.

[znbr1]

I like your conducting. It's a great piece and a difficult one for conducting.

You "hold" the orchestra firmly in your hands.

[atomicage0021]

I think this is a great and interesting version of the piece. I've heard a lot of dry, academic versions of this that seem to miss the emotional point. I think the conductor has to know personally the darkness of this work to get it across.

[xdyingfetusx69]

I never understood the point of conducting........

[Atael]

@xdyingfetusx69

What a ignorant...

[xdyingfetusx69]

@Atael I'm ignorant because I see no point and having someone wave a baton feeling special in front of a band??? LOL go fuck yourself...... Ive played in a band and I never fucking paid attention to the conductor... so tell me waht is the point?????? OH wait you are a conceited bigot don't answer that......

[Atael]

@xdyingfetusx69 I can bet that you suck like musician, a real musician don't despite or underestimate the conductor work, a real musician knows the importance and the value of the conductor, even if you never look at him while you play. Keep studying and maybe some day you will be a mature musician, little boy.

Cheers.

[xdyingfetusx69]

@Atael lol and you just proved to be the pompous conceited douche I had imagined you to be.. thanks.

[Atael]

@xdyingfetusx69 What? sorry but i speak Spanish. Suck my ass motherfucker. I can't understand you anyway, asshole.

[espinaca79]

@xdyingfetusx69

The conductor is a key factor. Without him it'd be a mess!

[lvarland]

Glad to see you're still at it, Chris! Nice work with a really bloody difficult piece! Let your right wrist be free once in a while ;-)

[rredhawk]

This is the best version of this piece that I've heard. I have 2 different cds of this piece and have heard at least 2 others. This version has much more smooth and subtle dynamics and tempo changes than the others I've heard, which sound jerky and rushed in so many places.

[bene951]

Time to find some better recordings then! I mean, almost any professional orchestra that records this SHOULD be better than a college orchestra. I have recordings of the LA Phil, Concertgebouw, and London Symphony playing this... all of which (should be and) are better than this... Good job on the part of the orch. on getting this together. Wish the trombones had played the glissandis better. I take it they are very hard because I have heard them played that way many times before.

[rredhawk]

Yeah. I'm sure there are many good versions of this piece I've yet to hear. Only other recording of this work I liked was an old vinyl LP I got from library back in early 80s. I think it was LSO (Previn?) but I lost the cassette years ago.

[ekihss]

Thank you for this. A remarkable piece by one of the 20th century's greatest composers. It is actually music for a pantomime. Very controversial for it's time. Not so much the music as the story.