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 ) 1923 West Malvern. The programme is identical to the 4 December one in Aldeburgh, complemented by 9 pieces from the series For Children. 13 December - From England he goes on to Paris. 15 December - Concert in Le Vieux Colombier. With violinist Simone Hersent he performs Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2, as soloist 4 pieces of Kodálys 9 Piano Pieces, of his own works Elegy No. 2, Variations {Ballad from 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs), three of 14 Bagatells, the 1st series of Kolindas, Sonatina, one Burlesque, Dirges Nos. 1 and 2, Rumanian Folk Dances, Rumanian Dance No. 1, and encore. 16 December - He writes his son in Budapest on a postcard: “The concert went really well yesterday; the violinist wasn’t very good but not very bad either, and the audience was very enthusiastic at the end of the concert”. (The address of the postcard is faulty: 9 Hold Street - instead of 6.) 17 December - He leaves Paris for Geneva. 20 December - At his Geneva concert, beside works by Scarlatti, he performs Bach’s Sonata for Two Violins and Piano with the Arányi sisters and his own Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 with Jelly Arányi. - Here he gets acquainted with conductor Ernest Ansermet, his avid fan, who would often conduct Bartok’s pieces later on, sometimes with Bartok’s participation. 21 December - On his way home from Paris he writes a letter to his mother and aunt in Pozsony (he mentions 11 appearances, but there were probably only 10) while waiting for connection in Zurich. He reports with joy that the financial results are good, so he was even able to buy presents, like, among other things, a fountain pen for his son, books and a watch for Márta Ziegler. 22 December - He arrives home in Budapest. 23 December - He visits Márta Ziegler and hands over his presents. He spends Christmas at home, expecting his son’s visit for 25 December. 229
