Kocsis / Bartok and Kurtag

What specific CDs of Zoltan Kocsis playing Kurtag or Bartok would you recommend?

For Bartok: I'm thinking of getting the separate 'Bartok solo piano' disc (Philips 464 676-2), which I've heard extended excerpts of and liked.

As to the rest, I'm having some trouble navigating with it. I don't really want to get all 7 of the Philips Bartok series, so I'd welcome comments on which discs you find preferable. As well as comments on the 'Kocsis plays Bartok' compilation (Denon Records - #7813).

For Kurtag: There seem to be plenty of Kurtag CDs with Kocsis, at least according to this discography:
http://www.bmc.hu/kurtag/discs_en.htm

The problem is that they seem to exist in theory mainly. If someone can point me to a source for any of these, I'd appreciate it.

(The usual suspects, MDT etc. don't have anything. Mymusic.com lists Songs and Chamber Works as a special order - which is usually the same as 'not available'...)

Many thanks,

There is a single disc 'best of' in the 'Philips 50' series that contains most of the better works and is mid-priced as well.

The Bartok concertos with Fischer are RequireD. Philips issued them on CD, don'r know if they're in print. Both the recorded sound and the collaboration are even better than Anda/Fricsay. Kocsis has effective competition in the solo music from several quarters, but the degree of rapport he had with Fischer/BFO in the first two concertos is, as Simon would not say, literally awesome.

Try www.col-legno.de or http://makeashorterlink.com/?P17826FC4 Col legno WWE 2CD 31870 'Portraitkonzert Salzburg, 13.8.1993'

See also www.hungaroton.hu HCD 31290 'Works of György Kurtág' (ia available at amazon.com)

Hungaroton PR 843 'Plays and Games - Excerpts' was not for sale (advertsiment only)

I've got a slight preference for the Denon performances over their Philips counterparts. More spontaneous-seeming and volatile. The Denon were recorded a good bit earlier, when Kocsis was about 25; that may or may not be a factor. The Denon disc is low priced, and I don't think it'll kill you to duplicate some of what's found in the many Philips volumes, or the compilation.

I got the 1993 'Portrait Concert' on col legno, which features Kocsis in several works, direct from the US distributor, http://www.qualiton.com

A quick search indicates that they still have it in stock.

Col legno 31870 is what I would recommend. A 2-CD set of all excellent works. Kocsis performs on may of the songs with piano, as well as ...quasi una fantasia... Also includes the amazing Grabstein fur Stephan. It's pricey, but well worth it if you have any interest in Kurtag's music.

Cheers,

Marcus Maroney marcus dot maroney at yale dot edu

Literally? OK, it's on the list!! (As we Corsicans put it.)

This is excellent, thanks.

Also thanks to Alan who recommended the same disc. The pointer to the Qualiton site was very useful.

Thanks very much! (I note that the 1993 concert is winning handily...)

Thanks! I didn't see it when I looked around but will have another pass at it.