1/5. The Hungarian composer and pianist Bela Bartok was born into a time of political turmoil. During his formative years, he was caught up in a surge of nationalism that gripped his homeland and informed much of his early work. But, as Donald Macleod discovers, it wasn't long before another influence was to transform his career. If I Climb the Rocky Mountains (Eight Hungarian Folk Songs) Julia Hamari (mezzo), Ilona Prunyi (piano)
Kossuth Budapest Festival Orchestra, conductor Ivan Fischer
Two Portraits Chantal Juillet (violin),
Montreal SO, conductor Charles Dutoit Seven Sketches, Op 9b Nos 1, 2 and 4 JenoJando (piano)
String Quartet No 1 Takacs Quartet Producer Deborah Preston Repeated Sunday 12 midnight
RT DIRECT: A recording of Bartok's piano music (2 CDs) by Michel Beroff is available for £12.99 including p&p. To order please send a cheque, payable to Selections, to: Selections, [address removed], or phone: [number removed] (national rate), or visit www.selections.com/rtdirect. Quote ref: [text removed]