György Sándor - Bartók: The 3 Piano Concertos (2020)

György Sándor gave the world premiere of this concerto in 1946, just a few months after Bartök's death. His deep knowledge of the composer's works and special insights into the style make this account indispensable, even if it is not as brilliantly played as some. The pianist is quite free with rhythm and accent in his approach, conveying not the dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere more than a few interpreters have found in the piece, but something very much of the moment and of this world. There is an astringent joy to the performance that is both refreshing and quite in keeping with the mood of the composer's other essays from the last years of his life. Ádám Fischer and the Hungarian State Orchestra do a superb job on their end, and the recording, while slightly distant and diffuse, is well balanced and satisfying. --Ted Libbey