Bartok, Death's Head Genius

Bartok insisted that his work be included in the Nazi Decadent Art exhibition of 1938. Atta boy. I'm particularly fond of the string quartets, in particular numbers 3, 4 and 5. For my money, although the Takacs does an amazing job, the ultimate is the Tokyo String Quartet's 1980s version. Why? They assault their instruments with unparalleled accuracy and violence.

There is something totally joyful in listening to music in which there is absolutely no smiling whatsoever.

Then there's the ocean of blood in Bluebeard's Castle. And the overall evocation of insects crawling on the forest floor.