Compare Bartók: The Wooden Prince (Final Version); Divertimento; Romanian Folk Dances

's of 1917 is much less well-known than his later ballet, . The reasons seem clear enough; it uses a monster orchestra, and it sounds more like a mashup of , , and than . Among the work's champions was himself, who continued to revise the work several times after its 1917 completion; what is heard here is the final version, in which he axed about a quarter of the original piece. That probably did the work good, but this seems to be the first recording of this version, and it fits the dry style of conductor , leading the . is splendid in bringing transparency to 's rich orchestral detail. Hear the subtle winds and solo violin in "The Princess' Seductive Dance" for just one example. All this is magnificently rendered by the label's engineers at the Glasgow City Halls (incorrectly rendered as City Hall in the booklet). The brass glitters, and the impression is of a vast space, colorfully filled. Audiophiles will get a real treat here, but 's exacting, precise treatments, with the orchestra delivering what must have been strenuous demands, is attractive for anyone, and the album landed on classical best-seller lists in the spring of 2024. ~ James Manheim