London Philharmonic Orchestra & Edward Gardner - Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin Suite and The Wooden Prince (2026) [Hi-Res]

The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Edward Gardner present two of Béla Bartók’s most vibrant ballet scores, recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall. Written within a decade of one another, the music of The Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince reflects a period when the composer shifted from the lush, expansive soundworld of late Romanticism towards the leaner, more rhythmically driven style forwhich he became known.

This release marks Edward Gardner’s tenth on the LPO Label, adding to a catalogue of highly celebrated recordings which have been issued throughout his tenure as Principal Conductor. Bartók’s one-act pantomime ballet The Miraculous Mandarin provoked outrage at its premiere in 1926. The subsequent orchestral suite distilled the most compelling musical episodes, showcasing the brilliance of Bartók’s score. Gardner brings exceptional clarity to the music, in a performance where the swaggering dances, pervasive menace and explosiveclimax unfold with gripping intensity.

In contrast to the gritty urban setting of The Miraculous Mandarin, The Wooden Prince portrays a fantasy world. Bartók’s score is a masterclass in orchestral storytelling, peppered with allusions to the folk songs which inspired him. In this live recording from theRoyal Festival Hall, Gardner draws a performance of extraordinary detail and imagination from the LPO.