In response to listeners’ interest in 20th-century music, we will present a week analyzing Béla Bartók’s six string quartets. The first quartet was published in 1909 and the last in 1939, and these works are now considered an essential part of our musical heritage. We will hear performances from many different quartets, including the Juilliard String Quartet, who performed them while the ink was still wet on the page. Bill complements these quartets by surrounding them with his favorite moments from Bartók’s ballet and orchestral works.
The Quartets of Béla Bartók
A close up of a bridge on a cello
Playlist
Episode 1
Bartók, Béla: Suite No. 2 for Orchestra, Op. 4 Sz. 34: II. Allegro scherzando
Hungarian National Philharmonic & Zoltan Kocsis
Suite No. 2; Rumanian Dance; Rumanian Folk Dances; Dance Suite
Hungaroton Classic HSACD 32506
8:00
Bartók, Béla: Violin Concerto No. 1, 36, Bb 48a: I. Andante Sostenuto
State Symphony Orchestra of the USSR, David Oistrakh, Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Violin Concertos
Brilliant Classics 92609
9:11
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No.1, Sz. 40 (Op.7): I. Lento
Alban Berg Quartet
Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1-6
Warner Classics 3609472
1:12
Beethoven, Ludwig: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 III. Molto adagio
Alban Berg Quartet
Beethoven Quartet
EMI 04413
2:44
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 1, Sz. 40, I. Lento
Takacs Quartet
Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1-6
Decca 4552972
9:15
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No.1, Sz. 40, II. Allegretto, III. Allegro vivace
Takacs Quartet
Bartók: String Quartets Nos. 1-6
Decca 4552972
19:01
Episode 2
Bartók, Béla: The Wooden Prince Suite, Op. 13 (excerpt)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Dance Suite / Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta / The Wooden Prince
Finlandia Records 3984 21029 2
4:18
Bartók, Béla: The Wooden Prince Suite, Op. 13 (excerpt)
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Dance Suite / Music For Strings, Percussion And Celesta / The Wooden Prince
Finlandia Records 3984 21029 2
3:41
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 2, Sz. 67 Op. 17:
I. Moderato II. Allegro molto capriccioso III. Lento
Emerson String Quartet
Bartók 6 String Quartets
DG 423 657 2
26:38
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 3 – Prima parte: Moderato – attacca;
Seconda parte: Allegro – attacca; Coda: Allegro molto
Juilliard Quartet String Quartets Nos. 3, 4, & 6
Juilliard String Quartet 50 Years Vol.1 Bartók String Quartets Nos.3,4 & 6
Sony Classical SMK 62705
15:13
Episode 3
Bartók, Béla: Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Piano
Joseph Szigeti, Béla Bartók Historic Library of Congress Recording, 13 April 1940
A Sonata Recital
Vanguard Classics 08 8008 71
9:15
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91:
I. Allegro; II. Prestissimo, con sordino; III. Non troppo lento;
IV. Allegretto pizzicato; V. Allegro molto
Takács Quartet
Bela Bartok: The Six String Quartets
Hungaroton HCD12502 04
22:09
Bartók, Béla: Divertimento for Strings, Sz. 113: I. Allegro non troppo
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
Divertimento / Dance Suite / Hungarian Sketches / Two Pictures
DG 445 825
16:36
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 4, Sz. 91: III. Non troppo lento (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez
Divertimento / Dance Suite / Hungarian Sketches / Two Pictures
DG 445 825
3:06
Episode 4
Bartók, Béla: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116: Intermezzo Interrotto: Allegretto
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
Fritz Reiner: The Complete Chicago Symphony Recordings on RCA
RCA 88883701982
4:18
Bartók, Béla: Sonata For 2 Pianos & Percussion, SZ 110 – 3. Allegro Non Troppo
Murray Perahia, Georg Solti, David Corkhill, Evelyn Glennie
Bartók: Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion & Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Sony G100012224075
6:46
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: I. Allegro: II. Adagio molto
Emerson String Quartet
Bartók 6 String Quartets
DG 423 657 2
13:11
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102: III. Scherzo (Alla bulgarese);
IV. Andante; V. Finale (Allegro vivace)
Emerson String Quartet
Bartók 6 String Quartets
DG 423 657 2
16:24
Bartók, Béla: Piano Concerto No. 3, BB 127, Sz. 119: I. Allegretto
London Symphony Orchestra, Hélène Grimaud, Pierre Boulez
Bartók The Piano Concertos
DG 477 5330
7:33
Episode 5
Bartók, Béla: Hungarian Sketches, Sz. 97: I. “An Evening in the Village”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Pierre Boulez
Divertimento / Dance Suite / Hungarian Sketches / Two Pictures
DG 445 825
2:55
Bartók, Béla: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Sz. 106: Adagio
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
Fritz Reiner: The Complete Chicago Symphony Recordings on RCA
RCA 88883701982
7:04
Bartók, Béla: Concerto For Orchestra, Finale
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
Fritz Reiner: The Complete Chicago Symphony Recordings on RCA
RCA 88883701982
9:08
Bartók, Béla: String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114:
I. Mesto – Piu mosso, pensante – Vivace
II. Mesto – Marcia
III. Mesto – Burletta (Moderato)
IV. Mesto
Emerson String Quartet
Bartók 6 String Quartets
DG 423 657 2
27:46
Bartók, Béla: Piano Concerto No.3 Sz119 _ II Adagio religioso (excerpt)
Bupapest Festival Orchestra/Fischer, Andras Schiff, piano
Bartok Piano Concertos
Teldec 13158
2:11