We are all familiar with Béla Bartók's music, and we happily compare him with his great contemporaries and predecessors. Still, there are only few concerts where Bartók is contrasted only against himself, where we can listen to his music in the same genre but from different life periods. The programme is framed by his two violin concertos, the first of which he wrote in his 20s, wouldn't publish in his lifetime and dedicated to his first serious love interest. The composition is a portrait in itself: two faces of the platonic sweetheart, Stefi Geyer. However, it is as much a portrait of Bartók as of Stefi. The master's Violin Concerto No. 2 was completed about thirty years later and was not inspired by love, but we can sense a mature and virtuoso Bartók in it. Rhapsodies No. 1 and 2 will feature in the middle of the concert. These two pieces were written at around the same time; between the two violin concertos. After being re-arranged for orchestra, the rhapsodies could also be interpreted as violin concertos.

Contrary to Bartók's violin concertos, however, the themes are provided by authentic folk melodies in his rhapsodies. In them, therefore, the composer showcased the fruit of his folk music collection as well. The rhapsodies also portrait Bartók's view on nation and history.