Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
After World War I (1920–1921)
AFTER WORLD WAR I (1 920-1 921) 1920 up on the map the places his dad now visited. He spends more than a month in Berlin to get oriented, establish contacts. He stays in Tempelhof at 51 Albert Str. 28 February - He writes his wife about his composer’s evening: “I didn’t play Rhapsody: conductor Scherchen (28 years old) was ill ... he begged me to play solo pieces (Elegy No. 1; Evening in Transylvania; Allegro barbaro). There was enough applause; encore as well...” 2 March - He goes to see the “king of theatre” Max Reinhardt, who makes him an offer for putting music to Aristophanes’ Lysistrata. Bartok is interested, but asks for a guarantee of tranquil circumstances. (In lack of this the plan didn’t come true.) 4 March - He writes his wife in Rákoskeresztúr about his experiences up to date. He receives orders for different articles, but his plans for folk music collecting are without prospects. 8 March - He appears at another concert at Blüthner Hall, organised by “Die neue Musikgesellschaft ” under Hermann Scherchens leadership. (Bartok is staying with the Scherchens by the way.) The programme is: Kodály ’s (whose name they spelled Goldáy) Sonata for Violoncello with R. Kropholler’s participation, Ravel’s Trio with Nicolas Lambinons and Kropholler’s participation, from his own pieces one of 3 Burlesques and one of 2 Elegies beside Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 from 14 Bagatells. Then he moves to the Ferenc Vecseys’ in Grunewald (19 Bismarck Allee). 10 March (mistakenly dated 10 February) - From here he writes his wife in Budapest. He asks for an article describing the working of the Budapest Opera House, Tango’s activity in particular, for the American periodical Musical Courier. He entrusts his wife to visit Kodály (or send her sister Herma), and arrange the article to be written either by Kodály, Antal Molnár or László Lajtha. Bartok is also preparing 191
