Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
World War II. Second and Third American Tour (1939–1945)
1 944 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE York philharmonica-players took my 2nd Suite off their programme, so they don’t play any of my things this year, after last year’s great success, hugs and handkissing. What a gang.” At the end of October the Bartoks visit the Menuhins in New York. He writes Péter about this in his letter of the 31st: He played the violin solo sonata for me, although he doesn’t yet know it quite perfectly. It’s very good that he did this, because it turned out that it had much to be corrected [on my part].”. In the meanwhile Péter Bartok was transferred to the naval base of the Panama Channel Area, which was more favourable than if he were to get to the Japanese battlefield. 8 and in continuation 10 November - In his letter Bartok, who has never ventured further to the South than the North latitude 30th, asks: “Do you see any of the stars of the Southern celestial sphere which cannot be seen hereabouts? Perhaps the ’Southern Cross’?...”. (Not this latter but a considerable part of the Southern celestial sphere was visible from there.) 22 November - He and his wife go together on an obligatory visit to the “Foreigner” (“Alien”) office, and on 23 November this gets commemorated in their joint letter in a humorous way: “... Yesterday we were again in the ‘ Éljen office. ” [Translator’s note: it sounds exactly like alien and means ‘Long Live’ in Hungarian] “Going there twice a year is terrible when earlier they used to be content with us going once.”. 26 November - Yehudi Menuhin presents Solo Sonata in New York. “It was a wonderful performance” - Bartok writes happily. This is followed by another great experience. 28 November - He travels with his wife to Boston on the expenses of the Boston orchestra. 30 November - In Boston he attends the rehearsals of Concerto. 1 December - He also attends the world premiere conducted by Serge 494
