Jorge Bolet, Arnhem, 26 May 1974
Updated: Oct 18
26 May 1974
Arnhem, The Netherlands (Festival of Romantic Music)
Bach-Busoni: Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D-minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1004
Cesar Franck: Prélude, Aria & Final Op. 23
Grieg: Ballade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song in G minor, Op. 24
Strauss-Tausig: Man lebt nur einmal
Strauss-Tausig: Nachtfalter
Strauss-Schulz-Evler: Arabesques on The Beautiful Blue Danube
Saint-Saens-Godowsky: The Swan
Paul de Schlözer: Concert Etude in A-flat Op. 1, No. 2
Moszkowski: La Jongleuse, Op. 52, No. 4
Jorge performed often in the Netherlands; his European début was in Amsterdam on 8 May 1935 and after a gap, he returned to the Kleine Zaal, Concertgebouw in December 1955 . He performed in many places, large and small: The Hague, Rotterdam, Groningen, Utrecht, Rotterdam, de Bilt, Arnhem, Laren, Haarlem, Nijmegen, Leeuwarden, de Flint, Alkmaar, Apeldoorn, Eindhoven..., probably more in this one country than in other location outside his USA tours. One spectacular recital prompted the critic of NRC Handelsblad to write: "The technical achievements of this instrumentalist border on the unbelievable" and to head the review "Jorge Bolet: soms leeuw, soms musicus" (Sometimes lion, sometimes musician) .
There is also an amusing anecdote. When in the 1980s, Jorge had some concerts in Holland, he was so unhappy with the Bechstein provided by the Dutch dealer that it was proposed he play the following concert (in Utrecht) on a restored Baldwin. Baldwin had just opened their warehouse in Spijkenisse. After the concert, Jorge said that playing this instrument felt to him like driving a racing car. But one critic was not so pleased, at least with appearances. He wrote the instrument looked as if it had come from a brothel.
Mattheus Smits adds:
Jorge also played several concerts in Tiel. These concerts were organised by Mr. and Mrs. Bloemsa. Mr. Bloemsma had been a schoolteacher and was a great music lover. He organised concerts in a movie theatre in Tiel. He was the first who invited the later famous Quarteto Italiano to The Netherlands. I remember a concert by Jorge when Reger's Telemann variation was on the programme. When Jorge and Tex arrived from Amsterdam, I was already with the Bloemsma family and there was much confusion about the time. This was the year in The Netherlands when we introduced summer and winter time. As Mr. Bloemsma did not care for this nonsense, all his clocks at his house showed one hour difference!
Mr. Bloemsma also worried about the Reger/Telemann. As he did not know it, he worried if it would please the audience. Jorge without hesitation helped him out, telling that he would play the four Ballades by Chopin instead.
After the concert - sold out - we enjoyed together a nice party with the Bloemsma family. Two memories will always stay with me: Mr. Bloemsma always adressed Jorge as Mr.Boleet,and when Mr. Bloemsma paidd Jorge, Tex took a big book out of his pocket which turned out to be his wallet - filled to capacity!
Records from the local historical society, De Nieuwe Kroniek - Oudheidkamer Tiel, note that Jorge Bolet was advertised to perform a piano recital featuring works by Frédéric Chopin, Max Reger, and Franz Liszt on 2 March 1976.
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