Bela Bartok (1881-1945)

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

2009

20090216

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of composer, pianist and folksong collector Bela Bartok. He examines music inspired by his failed love affair with violinist Stefi Geyer, as well as an excerpt from his only opera. The composer had to wait eight years to see it staged for the first time.

Fourteen Bagatelles (No 2)

Bela Bartok (piano)

EMI CDC555031-2 T1

Four Hungarian Folk Songs, Sz 50

Male chorus of the Hungarian People's Army

Zoltan Vasarhelyi (conductor)

HUNGAROTON HCD31047 T1-4

Two Portraits

Shlomo Mintz (violin)

London Symphony Orchestra

Claudio Abbado (conductor)

DG 4105982 T15-16

Ten Easy Pieces (Nos 4,6,11)

Peter Frankl (piano)

ASV CDDCA687 T4, 6 and 11

String Quartet No 1 (final movement)

Takacs Quartet

DECCA 455 297-2 CD1 T3

Duke Bluebeard's Castle (excerpt)

Bluebeard - Siegmund Nimsgern

Judith - Tatiana Troyanos

BBC Symphony Orchestra

Pierre Boulez (conductor)

SONY CLASSICAL SMK64110 T10-12.

Donald Macleod explores music inspired by Bartok's failed love affair with Stefi Geyer.

2009

20090217

Donald Macleod introduces the suite Bartok created from his ballet The Miraculous Mandarin, which caused a riot at its premiere, plus an excerpt from his earlier ballet The Wooden Prince which, in spite of disapproval from the conservative faction in the audience, was Bartok's first popular success.

Az en szerelmem, Op 15 No 1

Julia Hamari (mezzo-soprano)

Ilona Prunyi (piano)

HUNGAROTON HCD31535 - Tr 1

Suite, Op 14

Peter Frankl (piano)

ASV CDDCA687 - Tr 2

Wooden Prince (excerpt)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Neeme Jarvi (conductor)

CHANDOS CHAN8895 - Trs 6-9

Romanian Folk-dances

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Zoltan Kocsis (conductor)

HUNGAROTON HSACD 32506

Miraculous Mandarin (Concert Suite)

London Symphony Orchestra

Georg Solti (conductor)

DECCA 4250392 - Tr 12.

Donald Macleod presents two Bartok ballets that had contrasting public receptions.

2009

20090218

Donald Macleod explores Bartok's life and music, introducing the colourful suite he composed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the unifaction of Budapest, which cemented his reputation as a major figure in contemporary music, as well as an evocative choral work inspired by an ancient Romanian Christmas carol.

Three Village Scenes (Lad's Dance)

Gyor Girls Choir

Budapest Chamber Ensemble

Conductor, Antal Dorati

HUNGAROTON HCD31883 T6

Dance Suite

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor)

FINLANDIA 398421029-2 T1-6

Out of Doors (No 4)

Jeno Jando (piano)

NAXOS 8.558200-01 CD2 T4

Rhapsody No 2 (2nd mvt)

Susanne Stanzeleit (violin)

Gusztav Fenyo (piano)

ASV CDDCA883 T2

Cantata Profana

John Aler (tenor)

John Tomlinson (bass)

Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra

Pierre Boulez (conductor)

DG 435 8632 T1-3.

Donald Macleod presents a Bartok suite celebrating 50 years of a unified Budapest.

2009

20090219

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok.

He introduces a complete performance of Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste, considered one of the masterworks of the 20th Century, plus an excerpt from his Second Piano Concerto and a chamber work played by the two musicians who commissioned it, with the composer himself at the piano.

Romanian Whirling Dance

Gyorgy Pauk, Kazuka Sawa (violins)

NAXOS 8550868 T42

Piano Concerto No 2 (1st mvt)

Peter Donohoe

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Simon Rattle (conductor)

EMI CDC754871-2 T4

Loafers' song; Wandering; Girls' teasing song

Gyor Girls' Choir

Miklos Szabo (conductor)

HUNGAROTON HCD12448 T13-15

Contrasts (3rd mvt)

Benny Goodman (clarinet)

Joseph Szigeti (violin)

Bela Bartok (piano)

BIDDULPH LAB 070-71 CD2 T16

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Georg Solti (conductor)

DECCA 4705162 CD2 T1-4.

Donald Macleod introduces Bartok's celebrated Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste.

2009

05 LAST

20090220

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Bela Bartok, introducing music from the final years of his life following his emigration to America. Including the work which was described by Koussevitsky as 'the best orchestral piece of the last 25 years', plus a selection of pieces from Mikrokosmos and the final movement of the original version of his sonata for two pianos and percussion.

Mikrokosmos (No 142)

Jeno Jando (piano)

NAXOS 85578212 CD2 T42

Mikrokosmos (Nos 142, 149 and 151)

NAXOS 85578212 CD2 T46, 53 and 55

Sonata for two pianos and percussion (final mvt)

Andras Schiff, Bruno Canino (pianos)

Zoltan Racz, Zoltan Vaczi (percussion)

DECCA 4438942 T16

Concerto for Orchestra

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)

SONY CLASSICAL SK62598 T6-8.

Donald Macleod introduces music from Bartok's final years after his emigration to America.

2015

A Small And Sickly Child

20150126

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today he focuses on Bartok's sickly childhood, early life and musical beginnings, including his first major work Kossuth, influenced by Strauss and inspired by a Hungarian revolutionary.

Donald Macleod explores Bartok's sickly childhood, early life and musical beginnings.

2015

First Loves

20150127

20170821 (R3)

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today's programme focuses on the years leading up to the 1st World War, including Bartok's discovery of folksong and his friendship with fellow composer, Zoltan Kodaly. We also learn about an early jilted romance and Bartok's first marriage. Featuring an excerpt from one of his most infamous works, Duke Bluebeard's Castle.

Trad Mikor gulaslegeny voltam (When I was a herdsman)

Singer unknown

Fourteen Bagatelles; No. 4

Kornel Zempleni (piano)

Two Portraits; 2nd movement: Grotesque

London Symphony Orchestra

Shlomo Mintz (vln)/

Claudio Abbado (conductor)

Fourteen Bagatelles; Nos. 3, 13, 14

Robert Hagopian (piano)

String Quartet No. 1

Tokyo String Quartet

Duke Bluebeard's Castle; Door 7

Elena Zhidkova (mezzo-soprano)

Sir Willard White (bass-baritone)

Valery Gergiev (conductor).

Donald Macleod focuses on the years leading up to World War I.

2015

World War I And Withdrawal

20150128

20170822 (R3)

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today's programme focuses on a troubled period in Bartok's life. As World War I took hold in Europe, the composer was suffering from a crisis of confidence. He withdrew from Hungarian musical society, writing little new music. However, a chance encounter with a young girl revitalised him, leading to works such as the 2nd String Quartet, the Wooden Prince and the Miraculous Mandarin.

Roman Nepi Tancok (Romanian Folk Dances) BB 76

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Zoltan Kocsis (conductor)

Op. 15 songs; No. 2: Summer, No. 5: In the Valley

Julia Hamari (mezzo-soprano)

Ilona Prunyi (piano)

The Wooden Prince; The Princess Dances with the Wooden Prince

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Marin Alsop (conductor)

String Quartet No. 2; 2nd movement: Allegro Molto Capriccioso

Quatuor Ebene

Miraculous Mandarin Suite

London Symphony Orchestra

Sir Georg Solti (conductor)

8 Improvisations on a Hungarian Theme; Theme

Bela Bartok (piano).

Exploring Bartok's crisis of confidence and the chance encounter that revitalised him.

2015

Rediscovering The Piano

20150129

20170823 (R3)

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today's programme explores the circumstances of Bartok's second marriage, and his subsequent re-emergence as a composer and pianist of international renown.

Dance Suite: 5th and 6th movements (Comodo, Finale)

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Zoltan Kocsis (conductor)

Frescobaldi (transcribed Bela Bartok)

Fuga in G minor

Ilona Prunyi (piano)

Out of Doors Suite: 4th movement (The Night's Music)

Rolf Hind (piano)

Piano Concerto No. 1: 3rd movement (Allegro Molto)

BBC Philharmonic

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Gianandrea Noseda (conductor)

Cantata Profana

John Aler (tenor)

John Tomlinson (baritone)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chicago Symphony Chorus

Pierre Boulez (conductor)

Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta: Finale

Sir Georg Solti (conductor).

Donald Macleod focuses on Bartok's re-emergence as a composer and pianist after WWI.

2015

05 LAST

Slide Into War And Exile

20150130

20170824 (R3)

Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. As Europe slipped into World War II, Bartok wrote to a friend of how he felt the whole world was drifting into evil, restlessness and terror...and of the need to go far from the vicinity of what he called the 'pestilence-ridden lands. Today's programme explores Bartok life as a Hungarian 退migr退 in America and his final years away from the land he'd once loved.

String Quartet 6; 3rd movement

Vertavo String Quartet

Ten Hungarian Folksongs: BB42; No. 1: Elindultam szep hazambul (I left my fair homeland)

Stefan Margita (tenor)

Katerina Englichova (harp)

Mikrokosmos;

Vol I: No. 16: Andante Rubato

Vol II: No. 37: In Lydian Mode: Allegretto

Vol III: No.86: Two major Pentachords

Vol IV: No. 100: In the style of a folksong

Vol V: No. 135: Perpetuum Mobile

Vol VI: No. 147: March

No. 142: From the Diary of a Fly (1'30)

No. 152: Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm [5] 57

No. 146: Ostinato 2'10

Dezso Ranki (piano)

Concerto for Orchestra; 3rd, 4th and 5th movements

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)

Piano Concerto No. 3; 3rd movement

Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

Martha Argerich (piano)

Alexander Vedernikov (conductor).

Donald Macleod explores Bartok's final years and his move to America during World War II.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
2009	01		20090216		Donald Macleod explores the life and music of composer, pianist and folksong collector Bela Bartok. He examines music inspired by his failed love affair with violinist Stefi Geyer, as well as an excerpt from his only opera. The composer had to wait eight years to see it staged for the first time. Fourteen Bagatelles (No 2) Bela Bartok (piano) EMI CDC555031-2 T1 Four Hungarian Folk Songs, Sz 50 Male chorus of the Hungarian People's Army Zoltan Vasarhelyi (conductor) HUNGAROTON HCD31047 T1-4 Two Portraits Shlomo Mintz (violin) London Symphony Orchestra Claudio Abbado (conductor) DG 4105982 T15-16 Ten Easy Pieces (Nos 4,6,11) Peter Frankl (piano) ASV CDDCA687 T4, 6 and 11 String Quartet No 1 (final movement) Takacs Quartet DECCA 455 297-2 CD1 T3 Duke Bluebeard's Castle (excerpt) Bluebeard - Siegmund Nimsgern Judith - Tatiana Troyanos BBC Symphony Orchestra Pierre Boulez (conductor) SONY CLASSICAL SMK64110 T10-12. Donald Macleod explores music inspired by Bartok's failed love affair with Stefi Geyer.
2009	02		20090217		Donald Macleod introduces the suite Bartok created from his ballet The Miraculous Mandarin, which caused a riot at its premiere, plus an excerpt from his earlier ballet The Wooden Prince which, in spite of disapproval from the conservative faction in the audience, was Bartok's first popular success. Az en szerelmem, Op 15 No 1 Julia Hamari (mezzo-soprano) Ilona Prunyi (piano) HUNGAROTON HCD31535 - Tr 1 Suite, Op 14 Peter Frankl (piano) ASV CDDCA687 - Tr 2 Wooden Prince (excerpt) Philharmonia Orchestra Neeme Jarvi (conductor) CHANDOS CHAN8895 - Trs 6-9 Romanian Folk-dances Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra Zoltan Kocsis (conductor) HUNGAROTON HSACD 32506 Miraculous Mandarin (Concert Suite) London Symphony Orchestra Georg Solti (conductor) DECCA 4250392 - Tr 12. Donald Macleod presents two Bartok ballets that had contrasting public receptions.
2009	03		20090218		Donald Macleod explores Bartok's life and music, introducing the colourful suite he composed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the unifaction of Budapest, which cemented his reputation as a major figure in contemporary music, as well as an evocative choral work inspired by an ancient Romanian Christmas carol. Three Village Scenes (Lad's Dance) Gyor Girls Choir Budapest Chamber Ensemble Conductor, Antal Dorati HUNGAROTON HCD31883 T6 Dance Suite Toronto Symphony Orchestra Jukka-Pekka Saraste (conductor) FINLANDIA 398421029-2 T1-6 Out of Doors (No 4) Jeno Jando (piano) NAXOS 8.558200-01 CD2 T4 Rhapsody No 2 (2nd mvt) Susanne Stanzeleit (violin) Gusztav Fenyo (piano) ASV CDDCA883 T2 Cantata Profana John Aler (tenor) John Tomlinson (bass) Chicago Symphony Chorus and Orchestra Pierre Boulez (conductor) DG 435 8632 T1-3. Donald Macleod presents a Bartok suite celebrating 50 years of a unified Budapest.
2009	04		20090219		Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. He introduces a complete performance of Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste, considered one of the masterworks of the 20th Century, plus an excerpt from his Second Piano Concerto and a chamber work played by the two musicians who commissioned it, with the composer himself at the piano. Romanian Whirling Dance Gyorgy Pauk, Kazuka Sawa (violins) NAXOS 8550868 T42 Piano Concerto No 2 (1st mvt) Peter Donohoe City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Simon Rattle (conductor) EMI CDC754871-2 T4 Loafers' song; Wandering; Girls' teasing song Gyor Girls' Choir Miklos Szabo (conductor) HUNGAROTON HCD12448 T13-15 Contrasts (3rd mvt) Benny Goodman (clarinet) Joseph Szigeti (violin) Bela Bartok (piano) BIDDULPH LAB 070-71 CD2 T16 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Georg Solti (conductor) DECCA 4705162 CD2 T1-4. Donald Macleod introduces Bartok's celebrated Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste.
2009	05 LAST		20090220		Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Bela Bartok, introducing music from the final years of his life following his emigration to America. Including the work which was described by Koussevitsky as 'the best orchestral piece of the last 25 years', plus a selection of pieces from Mikrokosmos and the final movement of the original version of his sonata for two pianos and percussion. Mikrokosmos (No 142) Jeno Jando (piano) NAXOS 85578212 CD2 T42 Mikrokosmos (Nos 142, 149 and 151) NAXOS 85578212 CD2 T46, 53 and 55 Sonata for two pianos and percussion (final mvt) Andras Schiff, Bruno Canino (pianos) Zoltan Racz, Zoltan Vaczi (percussion) DECCA 4438942 T16 Concerto for Orchestra Los Angeles Philharmonic Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor) SONY CLASSICAL SK62598 T6-8. Donald Macleod introduces music from Bartok's final years after his emigration to America.
2015	01	A Small And Sickly Child	20150126		Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today he focuses on Bartok's sickly childhood, early life and musical beginnings, including his first major work Kossuth, influenced by Strauss and inspired by a Hungarian revolutionary. Donald Macleod explores Bartok's sickly childhood, early life and musical beginnings.
2015	02	First Loves	20150127	20170821 (R3)	Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today's programme focuses on the years leading up to the 1st World War, including Bartok's discovery of folksong and his friendship with fellow composer, Zoltan Kodaly. We also learn about an early jilted romance and Bartok's first marriage. Featuring an excerpt from one of his most infamous works, Duke Bluebeard's Castle. Trad Mikor gulaslegeny voltam (When I was a herdsman) Singer unknown Fourteen Bagatelles; No. 4 Kornel Zempleni (piano) Two Portraits; 2nd movement: Grotesque London Symphony Orchestra Shlomo Mintz (vln)/ Claudio Abbado (conductor) Fourteen Bagatelles; Nos. 3, 13, 14 Robert Hagopian (piano) String Quartet No. 1 Tokyo String Quartet Duke Bluebeard's Castle; Door 7 Elena Zhidkova (mezzo-soprano) Sir Willard White (bass-baritone) Valery Gergiev (conductor). Donald Macleod focuses on the years leading up to World War I.
2015	03	World War I And Withdrawal	20150128	20170822 (R3)	Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today's programme focuses on a troubled period in Bartok's life. As World War I took hold in Europe, the composer was suffering from a crisis of confidence. He withdrew from Hungarian musical society, writing little new music. However, a chance encounter with a young girl revitalised him, leading to works such as the 2nd String Quartet, the Wooden Prince and the Miraculous Mandarin. Roman Nepi Tancok (Romanian Folk Dances) BB 76 Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra Zoltan Kocsis (conductor) Op. 15 songs; No. 2: Summer, No. 5: In the Valley Julia Hamari (mezzo-soprano) Ilona Prunyi (piano) The Wooden Prince; The Princess Dances with the Wooden Prince Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop (conductor) String Quartet No. 2; 2nd movement: Allegro Molto Capriccioso Quatuor Ebene Miraculous Mandarin Suite London Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti (conductor) 8 Improvisations on a Hungarian Theme; Theme Bela Bartok (piano). Exploring Bartok's crisis of confidence and the chance encounter that revitalised him.
2015	04	Rediscovering The Piano	20150129	20170823 (R3)	Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. Today's programme explores the circumstances of Bartok's second marriage, and his subsequent re-emergence as a composer and pianist of international renown. Dance Suite: 5th and 6th movements (Comodo, Finale) Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra Zoltan Kocsis (conductor) Frescobaldi (transcribed Bela Bartok) Fuga in G minor Ilona Prunyi (piano) Out of Doors Suite: 4th movement (The Night's Music) Rolf Hind (piano) Piano Concerto No. 1: 3rd movement (Allegro Molto) BBC Philharmonic Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano) Gianandrea Noseda (conductor) Cantata Profana John Aler (tenor) John Tomlinson (baritone) Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago Symphony Chorus Pierre Boulez (conductor) Music for Strings Percussion and Celesta: Finale Sir Georg Solti (conductor). Donald Macleod focuses on Bartok's re-emergence as a composer and pianist after WWI.
2015	05 LAST	Slide Into War And Exile	20150130	20170824 (R3)	Donald Macleod explores the life and career of composer Bela Bartok (1881-1945), one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. As Europe slipped into World War II, Bartok wrote to a friend of how he felt the whole world was drifting into evil, restlessness and terror...and of the need to go far from the vicinity of what he called the 'pestilence-ridden lands. Today's programme explores Bartok life as a Hungarian 退migr退 in America and his final years away from the land he'd once loved. String Quartet 6; 3rd movement Vertavo String Quartet Ten Hungarian Folksongs: BB42; No. 1: Elindultam szep hazambul (I left my fair homeland) Stefan Margita (tenor) Katerina Englichova (harp) Mikrokosmos; Vol I: No. 16: Andante Rubato Vol II: No. 37: In Lydian Mode: Allegretto Vol III: No.86: Two major Pentachords Vol IV: No. 100: In the style of a folksong Vol V: No. 135: Perpetuum Mobile Vol VI: No. 147: March No. 142: From the Diary of a Fly (1'30) No. 152: Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm [5] 57 No. 146: Ostinato 2'10 Dezso Ranki (piano) Concerto for Orchestra; 3rd, 4th and 5th movements City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Sir Simon Rattle (conductor) Piano Concerto No. 3; 3rd movement Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana Martha Argerich (piano) Alexander Vedernikov (conductor). Donald Macleod explores Bartok's final years and his move to America during World War II.