Bartók revised his ‘pantomime ballet’ many times; the BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra’s new disc is the first ever recording of its final version

Three Hungarian-inspired proms combine sizzling energy, Bartók and dadaist absurdity, while an intimate staging ramps up the angst in a bite-size Bernstein

A big week for Finnish music and musicians led by Kaija Saariaho’s powerful opera about a school shooting, and a thrilling Bartok performance

Domingo Hindoyan brought grace to Mahler and sonic terror and conviction to Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle

The pianist’s breathless three-part recital mixed the baroque and the modern, taking on sonatas from the Bachs to Soler

With Kirill Karabits replacing Simon Rattle on the podium, works by Bartók and Miklós Rózsa were brilliantly played. It’s hard to imagine a better performance of the latter’s virtuosic violin concerto

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

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

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

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

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

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

In her new book, Music for Life, the Observer’s classical music critic selects 100 works to last a lifetime