Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Great Concert Tours on Two Continents (1922–1931)
1926 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 11 October - Back again in Budapest, he writes Universal Edition. 15 October - At a Radio concert he performs pieces by Marcello, Rossi, Pasquini, della Ciaja, Beethoven, Debussy, and Bartok: Elegy No. 2, the 2nd series of Kolindas, and volumes III and IV of For Children. 26 October - He writes István László Németh the programme of the November concert. 28 October - In New York his String Quartet No. 1 is performed by the Pro Arte String Quartet. 5 November - First introductory evening of the Hungarian Stage Authors’ Society at the Music Institute of Higher Education (Music Academy). In the highly variegated programme beside Irén Varsányi, Erzsi Mende, Ferenc Kiss, Zsolt Harsányi, Mária Basilides, György Kosa, Blanka Péchy, Dr. Ferenc Székelyhidy, and Imre Farkas, Bartók is also performing, playing Sketches and Nos. 3 and 4 of Improvisations. In the meanwhile it was time for the Cologne premiere of The Miraculous Mandarin, and in Pozsony the date was fixed for the concert of the Toldy Circle. Bartok does his best to coordinate the dates. 8 November - He writes his mother that he requested the postponement of the Cologne premiere to a later date. - At the same time he notifies Universal Edition about his imminent visit to Vienna. 10 November - At Radio Budapest he plays his own piano pieces beside works of old Italian masters, Beethoven and Kodály. 12 November - He writes Universal Edition about difficulties regarding the libretto of The Miraculous Mandarin. - In Boston Dance Suite is performed, receiving highly favourable reviews. Finishing Piano Concerto No. 1. 17 November - From Budapest he writes Jenő Molnár about his concert plans in Pozsony (which didn’t come true in the end), he also writes to Universal Edition and then leaves for Pozsony. 20 November - He visits the Sándor Albrechts with his mother; he plays them part of the “ Tót songs ” (probably Rondo in C major), then 256
