Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
School Years (1890–1903)
1900 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 31 March - He performs the first movement of Beethovens Piano Concerto in C minor with the piano accompaniment of István Thomán as opening number of the fourth “home concert” at the Old Academy. He wants to present it to the people of Pozsony as well during Easter holidays, but we have no data showing whether it happened in the end. He planned to travel to Pozsony around 8 April for 10 days. 15 April - In any event he was in Pozsony on Easter Sunday. Violoncellist Adolf Schiffer played with Bartok occasionally, and recommended him to Dávid Popper. Popper calls him for 13 May, and is really satisfied with his playing. 15 May - He has a rehearsal with Popper, on the 17th he goes to see Carmen. 18 May - In the morning he has another rehearsal with Popper, whom he accompanies in the evening at the Park Club at a charity concert for the Society of the Sanatorium for Tuberculosis, in front of an audience of aristocrats. His name was written “ Pártos” in the papers of the time (thinking obviously of pianist István Pártos). Originally Popper had held out promises of even a fee but, with reference to the low receipts, in the end Bartok was not paid anything. 20 May - At the Opera he sees the Barber of Seville, on the 21st Aida, on the 22nd Lakme. 27 May - He plays the piano at the Felicie Fábiáns ’, he writes a letter to his mother in the evening. 29 May - At the Opera House he listens to Mignon, on the 30th The Bearskinned, on the 31st Don Juan, and on 1 June Hamlet by Thomas. 1 June - He goes to the Capitals Zoo, afterwards visiting his uncle Géza Bartok. 3 June - He pays a visit to the Kunwalds, Ernő Dohnányi s father-in-law s, then he writes a letter to his mother. In the evening at the Opera House he listens to Tannhäuser, on 4 June the Barber of Seville, and on 5 June Lohengrin with the participation of Károly Burian. 38
