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 )

1 940

300 pengős

of

medical expenses to Lajos Bilkei Pap. - He draws up a will.

5 October

- He issues a notarial mandate (No. 277/40) to Béla

Bartok

Jnr for the management of all his financial affairs (drawing of his pension and royalties, payment obligations of his taxes, utility bills and so forth, disposition over his flat and personal property).

6 October

- He visits Irma Voit

in

her new flat on Somlói

Road,

then in a letter he asks his sister to come to Pest to say goodbye.

8 October

- He buys two suitcases. - In the evening he gives his last Hungarian (at the same time European) concert with his wife at the Music Institute of Higher Education (Music Academy). The Capitals Orchestra is conducted by János

Ferencsik.

Bartok plays Bach’s Piano Concerto in A major and some pieces of Microcosmos, Mrs Bartok plays Mozarts Piano Concerto in F

major,

while together they perform Mozarts Concerto for Two Pianos in E flat major. Their fee is 1,000 pengős.

10 or

11 October - Farewell visit of the Kodálys

at

the Bartoks’.

11 October

- Bartok settles his bill with tailor Gyula

Fülöp. - He writes a postcard to Jenő

Deutsch

in forced labour service, with the encouragement that he recommended him to Kodály

for

future copying work. - He writes his last letter in Hungary to his son Béla.

He puts down his financial measures once again, like he should pay a monthly 400 pengős

to

Dr. Tibor Hajnal

and

manage the rest of the money properly until his return from America.

12 October

- He gives in his notice of leaving 29 Csalán

Road,

and, departing from Déli

Railway

Station of Budapest, he leaves Hungary with his wife.

They travel to Switzerland via Jugoslavia and Italy.

13 October

- They meet Stefi

Geyer

in Geneva.

14 October

- From Geneva Bartok writes a farewell letter to his son Béla,

to Paul Sacher and to Mrs Müller-Widmann,

whom he thanks for all the affection she had presented him with through the years, and writes: “This journey is actually a jump into uncertainty from the

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