Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
School Years (1890–1903)
1901 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 2 May - The notary of Szerb-Nagyszentmiklós issues a testimonial in regard (No. 3910/1901) stating that “ Béla Bartok, resident of Pozsony, is a Hungarian national hailing from Szerb-Nagyszentmiklós ”. 7 May - He watches Vilmos Tell at the Opera House. 10 May - He goes to the Fábiáns ’ in the afternoon, from there he and Felicie go on a first visit to Mrs Henrik Gruber (Emma Schlesinger, later Zoltán Kodály s first wife) where István Thomán and Mrs Gruber’s father would also arrive. Bartok plays a few Chopin preludes, Mrs Gruber complains that he doesn’t compose, saying: “but then where is the talent?” “... Emma Gruber is a really kind, accomplished, very musical, very outspoken, half elderly lady, who invited us for yet another visit.. 7 - Bartok writes. 11 May - The Fábiáns advise him to change his choice of friends from the middle class families like them to the likes of the Kunwalds or the Grubers in order to further his career, but Bartok answers that he enjoys himself in just such a family. His circle of friends, the Jurkovics s, the Arányis, the Stefi Geyers, and both of his wives’ families are indeed middle class. - He pays 32 crowns for his newly-made clothes. - In the evening Siegfried at the Opera House. 12 May - He writes a letter to his mother in Pozsony. 14 May - He attends a big dinner party at the Krunwalds’, together with the Dohnányis. Adolf Schiffer plays Volkmann’s Cello Concerto, Bartok is accompanying him. 16 May - Visit at the Fábiáns ’. 18 May - In his letter he writes his mother that Mrs Gruber takes lessons from Thomán, there had been mention of Thománs best pupils; that was followed by the 10 May invitation to the Grubers’. 19 May - He listens to the performance of Siegfried at the Opera House. 7 June - He writes his younger sister in Pozsony that he went to see his doctor who was pleased with him. 11 June - On his sister’s 16th birthday he sends her a postcard with no text to Pozsony. 42
