Bartók The Miraculous Mandarin, Suite Opus 19

Quick facts:

• Written 1918 – 19, just after World War One.
• The Miraculous Mandarin was originally a ballet score, based on a play by Menyhért Lengyel (1880 – 1957).
• The stage version was censored and banned in Hungary during Bartók’s lifetime due to the subject matter – it was first performed in Budapest in 1945.
• Bartók edited the score for several orchestral versions when he realised that the ballet score would not be performed – his favourite version was published in 1927.
• The orchestral Suite was performed in Cologne and the USA in 1927 and finally in Hungary in 1928.
• 7 characters in the ballet: 3 thugs, a young prostitute, and her clients – a seedy old man, a timid youth and a Chinese mandarin (official).

The story:
The 3 thugs force a girl to attract potential victims from the street: an old man followed by a youth, neither who have any money, and finally a Mandarin. The girl is scared of the Mandarin and tries to run away – he chases her and the thugs try to murder him. But the Mandarin refuses to die until the girl allows him to satisfy his desire, so she gives in and he dies.

The orchestral Suite has 6 movements:

• Introduction (street sounds): The thugs instruct the girl
• The girl entices the old rake
• The girl entices the young man
• The girl entices the Mandarin
• The girl dances for the Mandarin
• The Mandarin chases the girl and catches her

BÉLA BARTÓK 1881 – 1945

Hungarian composer and pianist who collected lots of folk music.

When he began piano and drumming lessons at a very young age it was discovered that he had perfect pitch.

Bartók failed medical tests to fight in World War One – instead, he collected folk songs from soldiers.

In 1940, Bartók emigrated to the USA to escape World War Two, where he remained for the rest of his life.

In addition to the influence from folk music Bartók was also inspired by other twentieth century composers, such as Debussy, Stravinsky and Schoenberg.

Bartók was one of the leading figures in twentieth century Hungarian music. His works cover a wide range of genres: opera, ballet, chamber music, orchestral music, concertos, songs and lots of piano pieces!