Recording from 08. Oct 2015

Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin

Forbidden music from turbulent times.

Bartók was inspired to compose this work after having read Melchior Lengyel's text. The music was composed in 1918-19, a difficult and turbulent period influenced by the dissolving of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The ballet was not premiered until 1926 in Cologne and created such a scandal that it was banned. Bartók then wrote a shorter concert suite, which is the most performed version today. The recording was done 8 October 2015 - the orchestra's 250 years jubilee gala.