Bartók: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3

Béla Bartók is unquestionably one of the great composers in music history – and one of the few modern composers who has firmly established a place in the repertoire. The three piano concertos play a central role in his biography and oeuvre, although only the Third can truly be described as "popular". The first two, while popular with pianists, tend to be treated rather reluctantly by audiences. Tzimon Barto sees a problem with an overly brutal, rhythmic approach: 'Even Bartók needs a gentle touch. If you hammer through the work without enthusiasm, it is no wonder that it becomes frozen in boredom.' In these recordings, he attempts to live up to his ideal of Bartók.