Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Great Concert Tours on Two Continents (1922–1931)
1929 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE Frenkel, otherwise playing the pieces of the Harkov concert, except for All’Ungherese, Sonata, and Suite. At the concert he also meets Hungarians, among them a worker called Bartok. 10 January - From Odessa he writes his mother and aunt about his experiences so far, the confusion in organization, his further program and about not being able to really view cities due to the severe cold. In the evening he leaves on a 48-hour journey for Leningrad. 13 January - Piano recital in Leningrad, at the Great Hall of the State Philharmonic Academy. Programme: Rossis Toccata in A minor, Marcellos Sonata in B flat major, Scarlattis Sonata in G major, della Ciajas Canzone in C major, 2 pieces respectively of Kodály s series Op. 11 and Op. 3, then of his own works 3 pieces of Out of Doors, Elegy No. 2, Dirge No. 2, Sonatina, Rumanian Folk Dances, Evening in Transylvania, Bear Dance, and Rumanian Dance No. 1. 14 January - In a long letter from Leningrad, he gives his mother and aunt an account of conditions in the Soviet Union, language problems, also mentioning that the last long journey was more comfortable than expected. 16 January - Another solo recital in Leningrad, because the orchestra was unable to learn the piano concerto to date. - He writes his sister that its not that terribly cold, -10° Réaumur, which is considered warm by locals. - Performance of Bluebeard in Berlin. 19 January - Weather is already growing milder, to -5° Réaumur in Leningrad, so he can even go for a walk. He likes the city. 20 January - He plays Piano Concerto No. 1 with the State Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Aleksandr Gauk. Then he leaves for Moscow. 24 January - He gives a piano recital at the Small Auditorium of the Conservatoire with the 13 January Leningrad programme. 25 January - At the Moscow SOVTORGFLOT he buys his train ticket for the route Zurich-Basel, and leaves for Switzerland. 26 January - Leaving the Soviet Union by train toward Warsaw, he begins 290
