Kodály - Dances of Marosszék Bartók - Piano Concerto No.3 Dvořák - Symphony No.8 Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók were comrades in folk-song collecting and this passion for the songs of their native Hungary regularly made its way into their work for orchestra. Kodály’s Dances of Marosszék was inspired by the colourful, rhythmic folk songs of the Marosszék region of Hungary, where songs were passed down through oral tradition in rural villages. Bartók’s love of melody and rhythm was drawn from this passion for the folk music of his homeland and in the Third Piano Concerto, the vibrancy and cheerfulness of the music disguises that, at the time of writing, he was living in devastating poverty, battling the wasting illness that would cause his death and leave the concerto finale incompletely scored. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is an ardent admirer of Bartók and places him in the same breath as Bach and Beethoven as a composer who wanted his music to ‘save the soul’, so the opportunity to hear him perform this concerto live is not to be missed. Dvořák’s exuberant Eighth Symphony teems with melodies, evoking bird-song and even a Bohemian brass band and finishes in a burst of unalloyed, life-enhancing joy. Location Show Offers