Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)

World War II. Second and Third American Tour (1939–1945)

WORLD WAR II.

SECOND AND THIRD AMERICAN TO U

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lack of consumer goods to his son. “It is good that at least I can write in Hungarian. ... Here I am with my world fame’ and in such misery. Of course, world fame will not feed you! ...”. - He suggests a concert in Brooklyn to his wife (this didn’t come true).

2 October - He notifies his wife: he wrote his essay about Romanian lyrics. (This belonging among his obligations at Columbia University, now he could utilise their remuneration.)

4 October

- He writes pianist Ernő

Balogh

in New York about their difficult housing situation and about his completed essay. He is optimistic regarding his health; he tries to practise and hopes that he can make gramophone recordings of some of his smaller pieces. (Unfortunately this didn’t work out.) - He writes József

Szigeti that

Solo Sonata will be Menuhin’s “property” for two years, it will not be published until then. Mrs Bartok would like to play Piano Concerto No. 2 and has Ormándy’s conducting

in mind. Bartok asks for Szigeti’s mediation but is not confident of its success: “if Ormándi

and

the other big wigs didn’t want it with me when I still functioned as a pianist, then what on earth is there to hope for now!”

5 October

- He leaves Saranac Lake for New York. His address is 309 W. 57th [Street] Apartment No. 503.

11 October - He writes Péter

in

a joint letter with his wife: “... I set a record once recently: I managed to have lunch for 35 cents, it was good and fulfilling. ...” He also writes about a telegram having arrived to Heinsheimer on 5 October: “ ‘Bartok Concerto again Sunday afternoon BBC symphony and menuhin advise bartok stop repeat performance due to phenomenal success. Ralph Hawkes’ ”.

24 October - Following the liberation of Belgium he writes Paul Collaer via Radio Brussels, sends his good wishes and gives a short account of his American years.

31 October - From New York he writes his son Péter

that

the Boston premiere of Concerto got postponed again, to December. “But the New

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