Volume 1 in a series of albums covering Bartok’s major works for orchestra. Conductor Thomas Dausgaard writes ‘To celebrate the great scope and stylistic variety in Bartok’s works, this new series of his orchestral works aims at bringing together on each disc two or more stylistically contrasting works. Whether inspired by impressionistic or late romantic music, by Gypsy music as heard on the streets of Budapest, peasant music from Hungary and Eastern Europe, Arabian music around the Mediterranean, or is a synthesis of many influences towards the end of his life, Bartok’s music speaks to us with an irresistible vitality, passion, humour and compelling seriousness. No more so than in this albums youthfully exuberant Suite no 1 (here in its uncut original version (1st time on record)) and his last completed orchestral work, concerto for orchestra (in this performance incorporating his final changes), where remarkably he returns to the five movement structure of the 1st Suite’.