International album release: Bartók
20 October 2025.
Our new international album release solidifies Hungarian composer Béla Bartók’s reputation as one of the ‘Four Bs’ of classical music - alongside Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.
The album, Bartók: Divertimento & Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, is available to listen on streaming services and CDs are available at the TSO Box Office.
The recording team was led by internationally acclaimed producer Jørn Pederson and included ABC Classic sound engineer Veronika Vincze.
The TSO led by Eivind Aadland perform a piece by Béla Bartók.
The album, curated and conducted by TSO Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Eivind Aadland, was recorded in Federation Concert Hall.
Hailing from Norway, Eivind has a career-long connection to Bartók, having trained under Yehudi Menuhin and Sandor Végh, both of whom worked directly with Bartók.
‘In Norway, Bartók was considered one of the main composers – equal to Beethoven and Brahms. I have performed his music throughout my career,’ Eivind says.
‘In music we talk about the “Three Great Bs”, Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. For us it was always Four Great Bs and that included Bartók. He's one of the great composers.’
TSO Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Eivind Aadland.
Bartók was originally commissioned to write the works in the 1930s for Switzerland's Basel Chamber Orchestra, which was famous for its adventurous programming.
'The two works we've recorded are among the most important works for string orchestra from the last century. They're huge pieces, very important and absolutely wonderful, Eivind says.
The Divertimento features nods to the Baroque ‘concerto grosso’ form, which refers to the music passing between individual groups of players.
In the work, Music for Strings, Percussion & Celeste, the ‘strings’ include harp and piano. The ‘percussion’ referenced in the title includes timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, xylophone and celeste – a keyboard percussion instrument.
The beautiful score culminates in a brilliant finale with dance and folk rhythms.
TSO viola player Anna Larsen Roach (centre front) and guest musicians.
TSO Principal Timpani Matthew Goddard.
The album has been released internationally by Rubicon Classics and is available on streaming services.
CDs of the album are available from the TSO Box Office for $20 (a $5 postage fee applies within Australia).
Outside of Australia, CDs are available via Rubicon Classics.
TSO Box Office
10am–4pm Monday to Friday
1800 001 190 — boxoffice@tso.com.au
TSO viola player William Newbery.
The percussion section led by Gary Wain (left).
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