Béla Bartók - The Miraculous Mandarin; Concerto for Orchestra (Cristian Măcelaru)

Information

Composer: Béla Bartók

• Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116
• The Miraculous Mandarin, Sz. 73

WDR Sinfonieorchester

Cristian Măcelaru, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Linn Records

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Celebrating the centenary of The Miraculous Mandarin’s chaotic 1926 Cologne premiere, conductor Cristian Măcelaru and the WDR Sinfonieorchester present the second installment in their ongoing Bartók series. Following its scandalous debut, which drew comparisons to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, Bartók’s intense pantomime continues to inspire awe with its raw realism, driving rhythms, and clanging, "hellish" orchestration. To contrast this visceral masterpiece, the album pairs the ballet with the composer's late orchestral triumph, the Concerto for Orchestra. The release offers a compelling showcase of Bartók’s expressive range, bridging one of his most controversial creations with his ultimate, celebrated masterpiece.

Cristian Măcelaru (b. 1980, Timișoara) is a Romanian conductor with an international career spanning Europe, North America, and Asia. Trained in the U.S. at Interlochen, Miami, Rice University, and later at Tanglewood and Aspen, he has worked with leading mentors including David Zinman and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. He is Music Director of the Orchestre National de France, Artistic Director of the George Enescu Festival, and incoming Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (2025/26). Formerly Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester, he has led major orchestras worldwide and released acclaimed recordings, including Saint-Saëns’ symphonies and Enescu’s orchestral works.

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