Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin | Philharmonia Zürich and Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Описание: Directed by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Béla Bartók’s concert suite The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19 was performed by the Philharmonia Zürich at the 2019 Beethovenfest in Bonn.

Originally written as a one act pantomime ballet in 1926, Bartók re-wrote “The Miraculous Mandarin” in 1928, turning it into a concert suite preserving about 2/3 of the original pantomime music. Today, it’s known as one of the most popular concert suites of the 20th Century.

The story of a Mandarin, a term historically used to describe Chinese officials, was originally written by Melchior Lengyel: Set in a chaotic, rough area of an unnamed big city, the story unfolds as three crooks force a young woman into prostitution, planning to kill and rob her clients. When the Mandarin arrives, he’s overcome with love for the young woman, but all attempts to kill him are unsuccessful – finally, feeling sorry for him, the woman takes him in. As they embrace, the Mandarin’s wounds begin to bleed and he dies.

Béla Bartók used a wide range of musical techniques in his rendition of this tragic story. The different characters’ personas are given specific dance-styles and are accompanied by relentlessly wild and fast-paced rhythms and music. Leading up to a thrilling crescendo, the instruments seem to come alive. “The Miraculous Mandarin” is an orchestral work that never fails to fascinate and captivate listeners – as Bartók himself said, it’s truly “hellish music”.

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