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

R

( 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 )

1939

his other obligations. He had already called the trip off once before, but then - partly affected by József

Szigeti

’s reassuring letter - he undertook it after all.

27 November

- He sends a telegram to Harold Spivacke: “I am going in April”; on the 28th he sends the same information to Andor Schulhof.

7 December

- He writes Boosey & Hawkes, then leaves for Florence with his wife.

9 December

- At their concert of two pianos they perform Mozart’s Sonata in D major, Stravinsky’s Concerto, and Debussy’s En

blanc et noir, then Bartok

plays

eight pieces from Microcosmos.

10 December

- They leave Florence for Rome. Having two days off they go to see the Vatican and the Lateran

Museum.

12 December

- In Rome, beside the Stravinsky and Debussy pieces, they play Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussions, and Bartok plays five pieces from Microcosmos.

Between 12 and 15 December their accommodation is at Pension Belle vue, Frascati.

13 December

- From Rome they write Béla

Bartok

Jnr and his family and also Péter.

- Bartok gladly acknowledges Paul Sacher having received his copy of the orchestral score of Divertimento, but is very sorry that he cannot attend the world premiere because of his American tour.

15 December

- They travel to Torino where Bartok plays Rhapsody conducted by Vittorio Gui. Outside of Hungary this is his last European appearance. - He gets elected member of the directorate of the Hungarian Stage Authors’ Association.

16 December

- The Bartoks leave Torino for home via Milan, Venice and Postumia.

17 December

- They arrive in Budapest. Bartok hastens at once to his mother who doesn’t recognise him anymore. This is their last meeting.

18 December

- Bartok writes a letter to Ralph Hawkes about the titles of

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