Concerto for Orchestra – Bartók

With the “Concerto for Orchestra,” Henle inaugurates a series of affordable study scores based on the text of the Bartók Complete Edition. When Bartók received the commission to compose this piece fromSerge Koussevitsky in May 1943, it meant not only financial support, but also an important creative impetus for the gravely ill composer. By October, the five-movement concerto, which Koussevitsky enthusiastically dubbed “the bestorchestral work of the last 25 years,” was already complete. The first performances in the winter of 1944 45 were also very successful. Nevertheless, Bartók was moved to set down an alternate ending, whichthecomposer, who passed away in September 1945, would never be destined to hear. Bartók specialist Klára Móricz includes both versions in her edition and summarises the history and transmission of the “Concertofor Orchestra” in a fascinating foreword. A brief commentary section provides information about the principles underlying the edition.