Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
School Years (1890–1903)
SCHOOL YEARS (1 890-1 903) 1899 Pozsony that Bartok got ill. Dr. Professor Béla Ángyán examines him, and, finding his condition disquieting, advises him to leave the straining music career and become a lawyer instead. This makes Bartok desperate; he continues his studies but moves to Buda where the air is purer. His Aunt Irma Voit from Pozsony also joins him there, and she nurses him and takes care of him until December. 13 November - He applies for exemption from attending choir practice at the Music Academy which he is granted on 16 November. In December he moves back to the widowed Mrs Lajos Voits, where he finds conditions satisfactory, although mentioning that on the 11th the rooms temperature was 14°, but he found it sufficient. (Obviously it was degree Réaumur = 17-18°C.) He is also joining the music scene more: 14 December - At the Opera House he watches Halévy s opera The Jewess, and on 16 December Beethovens opera Fidelio. - In his letter to his mother he gives an account of the previous days, and denotes his return home on the 21st. 17December - The Grünfeld-Bürger Quartet s concert is held on the 100th (actually the 129th) anniversary of Beethovens baptism as indicated on the programme. The programme consisted of Razumowsky quartet in F major Op. 59 No. 1, three Scottish songs performed by Mrs Ilona Szilágyi-Bárdossy, and Septet Op. 20 with the participation of members of the Opera Károly Gianicelli (double-bass), Hiekisch (clarinet), Wieschendorf (bassoon), and Beck (horn). 18 December - He listens to a stage rehearsal (probably for the philharmonic concert of 20 December). 19 December - He watches Erkel s The Viceroy Bánk with the guest appearance of Bianca Bianchi. 20 December - Philharmonic concert. Programme: Mendelssohns 33
