Béla Bartók

The week in classical: Life, Letters & Friendship; Bluebeard’s Castle – review

The Carducci Quartet get to the heart of Shostakovich, while two very different interpretations of Bartók’s only opera enthral

Stephen Pritchard

13, Nov, 2021 @12:30 PM

Bluebeard’s Castle review – Bartók’s opera wields devastating power in contrasting performances

Gerald Finley and Susan Bullock are at their best in a disquieting small-scale reimagining for Theatre of Sound; while Edward Gardner and the London Philharmonic’s more traditional take is equally sensational

Tim Ashley

07, Nov, 2021 @1:08 PM

BBCSSO/Volkov/ Kopatchinskaja review – Bartók’s roots unearthed with brilliance

The band Folktone cleverly swapped notes with Patricia Kopatchinskaja before the violinist whipped up a joyous musical whirlwind of Bartók and Ligeti

Flora Willson

29, Aug, 2021 @12:42 PM

From Vivaldi to Vaughan Williams: more musical voices who have changed our world

Over the past few months, our Know the Score series introduced 20 great composers. But what of the many we couldn’t write about? Martin Kettle suggests some other names whose music is well worth exploring

Martin Kettle

25, Nov, 2020 @1:36 PM

Behind closed doors: does love and isolation make Bartók’s Bluebeard the opera for our times?

Returning to the role of the duke’s curious young bride after the enforced silence of lockdown, Karen Cargill found Bartók’s opera more powerful and troubling than ever

Karen Cargill

31, Oct, 2020 @7:00 AM

Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker review – stunning trio of dance films

In Hoppla!, Achterland and Mitten, the Belgian dance legend manages a dynamic mix of composition and choreography

Sanjoy Roy

07, Aug, 2020 @7:00 PM

Treemonisha review – Tin Pan Alley meets Wagner in rare Scott Joplin outing

Grace Nyandoro made for an admirable heroine in this uneven but intriguing small-scale production for the king of ragtime’s ambitious 1911 opera

Flora Willson

28, Aug, 2019 @10:41 AM

Hungariana review – celebrating a nation's musical riches

The Casals Quartet and Tamara Stefanovich shone in the Barbican’s day of concerts saluting the spirit of 20th century Hungary and the music of Bartók, Ligeti and Kurtág

Erica Jeal

04, Feb, 2019 @2:20 PM

Martin Speake: Duos for Trio: The Music of Bela Bartók review - quiet ingenuity

John Fordham

02, Mar, 2017 @6:15 PM

Bartók: Mikrokosmos 5; 14 Bagatelles etc review – superb second set of miniatures

Andrew Clements

17, Nov, 2016 @5:00 PM

Bartók: Mikrokosmos 6 CD review – spacious warmth and fiendishness

Kate Molleson

24, Mar, 2016 @6:15 PM

Bartók: 44 Duos review – virtuoso sisters show finesse and fire

The French-Romanian duo sound too glossy at times but there is plenty of spark, too, in their playing