After publicly resisting the growing fascism in Europe in the 1930s, Hungarian pianist and composer BelaBartok eventually fled his homeland. As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, he wrote his Violin Concerto No. 2 not long before emigrating to the United States.
Radio Script:
MUSIC: Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2
Susan Lewis: Bartok’s Second Violin Concerto reflects his affection for the music of his homeland.
Gil Shaham: I think many musicologists have suggested that this piece was Bartok’s farewell to Hungary.
SL: Violinist Gil Shaham says the violin is such a traditional part of Hungarian culture.
GS: I remember hearing stories of people going to taverns, to restaurants in Hungary where there are lots of violins everywhere. There are lots of violins but no violin cases. People would just walk in and pick up a fiddle and start a little czardas [PLAYS]
SL: Bartok wrote a three movement concerto at the request of violinist ZoltanSzekely; but also used the form to explore theme and variations, incorporating elements of folk music and jazz.
GS: And there is something so beautiful about this piece – the juxtaposition of very folk-like material, beautiful Hungarian melodies, the orchestra – the violin - instruments imitating traditional Hungarian instruments, and this juxtaposition with something completely new - modernity, new harmonies, new rhythms, new textures.
SL: Bartok’s second violin concerto was premiered on April 24, 1939 by Szekely and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra. Bartok left Europe for the US the next year.
