Dances of Galanta / Dances of Marosszek

Zoltan Kodaly, like his compatriot Bela Bartok, wrote major orchestral scores that were deeply enriched by his research into Hungarian folk music. The Dances of Galanta are full of swagger and vitality, and the Concerto for Orchestra, commissioned for the Chicago Symphony's 50th anniversary, is lush, sparkling, and vivid. Like the Variations on a Hungarian Folk Song, 'The Peacock,' a virtuoso showcase of sizzling effects, these scores reveal the brilliance of his orchestral colors and the indelible allure of gypsy themes.