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

Great Concert Tours on Two Continents (1922–1931)

GREAT CONCERT TOURS ON TWO CONTINENTS (1 922-1 931 )

1925

5 October

- In Arnhem (Gelderland),

at

the new concert hall of Van Musis Sacrum he plays sonatas for Violin and Piano (Bach’s C minor, Mozart’s A major, and Brahms’ D minor), Improvisations by Ernest Bloch, and Székely’s arrangement

for violin and piano of the Rumanian Folk Dances with Zoltán

Székely; his

solo programme: Variations {Ballad from 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs), A Bit Tipsy, Bear Dance, Evening in Transylvania, and Allegro barbaro.

6 October

- In Utrecht he stays at Hotel Terminus, and in the evening repeats the previous day’s programme with Zoltán

Székely in

a concert hall at 22 Frans Halsstraat.

Zoltán Székely has

already been settled and married in Holland by this time, they lived in Nijmegen (Northern Brabant), where they entertained Bartok, who had a lovely time in their home and was resting until the next concert.

10 October

- He writes his mother a picture postcard from Nijmegen.

13 October

- From Amsterdam he writes his mother that he would not pass through Pozsony

on

his way home after all, because roads are very uncomfortable on that route, with many train changes.

14 October

- Piano recital in Amsterdam. Programme: Kodály

’s Epitaph

and 3 pieces from Op. 3, Bartok’s Old Dance Tunes (from 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs), Dirge No. 1, Sonatina, Suite, Bear Dance, Evening in Transylvania, Rumanian Folk Dances, 1st series of Kolindas, Dirge No. 2, Allegro barbaro,

Elegy

No. 2, and 3 Burlesques.

15 October

- At the concert of the Concertgebouw conducted by Pierre Monteux he plays Rhapsody, and the last piece of the programme is Dance Suite. “The most beautiful event of the tour in Holland.” Finally he can hear the piece as it should sound, with a splendid orchestra and an outstanding and obliging conductor. Reviews are also good. His fee is 300 guilders.

17 October

- He arrives in Budapest.

23 October - He writes his mother a long letter with an account of the

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