Night Music
Bart贸k聽faces a big decision: stay in Hungary or leave forever? Donald Macleod explores the life of one of Hungary's greatest composers, who travelled Europe recording folk songs.
Bart贸k聽faces a big decision: stay in Hungary or leave forever?
B茅la Bart贸k was regarded as one of Hungary鈥檚 greatest composers. His fellow countryman, the pianist Andras Schiff, called him 鈥渙ne of the giants in the history of music.鈥� But he was also one of the founders of what we now call ethnomusicology, spending much of his time immersed in peasant life, collecting folk songs. As around him Europe was torn apart by conflict, Bart贸k found relief in rural life and took inspiration from these traditional tunes, incorporating them into his own compositions.
In today's programme, Donald Macleod finds Bart贸k facing big decisions: whether to part company with his wife: and whether to stay in Hungary, the country whose music he鈥檇 dedicated a lifetime to, or leave it behind.
44 Duos for Two Violins, BB 104, Sz. 98
Andras Keller, violin
Janos Pilz, violin
Out of Doors, Sz. 81
Radu Lupu, piano
Mikrokosmos, Book V
C茅dric Tiberghien, piano
String Quartet No. 6, Sz 114
Heath Quartet
Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano
91福利社 Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda
Produced by Alice McKee for 91福利社 Audio Wales & West
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
B茅la Bart贸k
Duos for Two Violins, Sz.98 (No.11, Lullaby)
Performer: Andr谩s Keller. Performer: J谩nos Pilz.- ECM : 465-849 2.
- ECM.
- 5.
-
![]()
B茅la Bart贸k
Out of Doors, Sz.81
Performer: Radu Lupu.- DECCA : 487 149 4.
- DECCA.
- 4.
-
![]()
B茅la Bart贸k
Mikrokosmos (selection fom Vol. 5)
Performer: C茅dric Tiberghien.- HYPERION : CDA 68133.
- HYPERION.
- 30.
-
![]()
B茅la Bart贸k
String Quartet No.6, Sz.114 (3rd & 4th mvts)
Ensemble: The Heath Quartet.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMM 90766162.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 11.
-
![]()
B茅la Bart贸k
Piano Concerto No.3, Sz.119 (2nd mvt)
Performer: Jean鈥怑fflam Bavouzet. Performer: 91福利社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.- CHANDOS : CHAN-10610.
- CHANDOS.
- 8.
Broadcast
- Fri 8 May 2026 16:0091福利社 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.