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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 émigré 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).