Bartók’s “pantomime in one act” The Miraculous Mandarin caused such an uproar at its première in Cologne in 1926 that it was banned immediately and not seen again in the composer’s lifetime. It tells the story of three thugs who use a beautiful prostitute to ensnare a succession of men, whom they then brutally rob. Bartók’s score reflects the menace and melodrama of the story; he himself described the music as “hellish”.