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1 the New Mozart (1897–1929) At one o’clock in the afternoon on June 7, 1897, György endre Szél was born in Budapest, Hungary, the only child of Kálman and Malvin Szél.1 Kálman Szél, a successful businessman, called himself an “entrepreneur.” He was born in Marczali, in Somogyi County, south of the great lake Balaton. György’s mother hailed from Ipolyság, northwest of Budapest on the Ipoly river, which formed a border with Slovakia. After World War I, Slovakia, Moravia, and Bohemia were joined to form Czechoslovakia. the connection to this area in which many ethnic Czechs lived formed the basis of Szell’s later claim to Czech ancestry on his mother’s side. the language spoken in the Szell home, however, was Hungarian.2 the city of Budapest was formed in 1873 by incorporating the towns of Buda and Óbuda on the west bank of the Danube river with Pest on the east. Budapest was a growing city; by 1900 its population reached 700,000. the Szells lived in an elegant neighborhood north of the old town center of Pest at 34 Nádor utca (Nádor Street), at the corner of Garibaldi utca, two blocks from the Danube. At the end of the nineteenth century, the neighborhood was becoming a center of commerce and government. the Szells lived in a four-story stone apartment building on the block between the old Stock exchange and the Parliament building. Iron-grill doors frame its entrance passageway, leading to a square central courtyard. on the left in the passageway is the concierge’s apartment; on the right are mailboxes and a stairway to balconies along the two interior back walls of the courtyard. off the balconies are entrances to the apartments, which face Nádor and Garibaldi Streets.3 After the turn of the century, Szell’s father moved the family to Vienna, where he established the city’s first security-guard firm (Wach- und Schliessgesellschaft). A pioneering venture that depended on liaison with the police, the company held a virtual monopoly in the thriving city. As commerce grew, so did the need for such a service.4 4 . chapter 1 tied by the bonds of empire, Austria and Hungary shared a border, and their capitals lay only 130 miles apart. roads and the Danube, one of the world’s longest and most important commercial waterways, connected the cities. Budapest wielded strong economic and political influence, but Vienna held the center of power, as it had for centuries under the Hapsburg dynasty. Vienna was a magnet for talent and ambition, and Kálman Szél possessed both. the city offered him the opportunity to elevate his family’s status. they converted to Catholicism, obligatory for a business dealing closely with the government. A second l was added to the family name—suggesting a more aristocratic origin—and first names were Germanicized: György endre became Georg Andreas, Kálman became Karl or Carl, and Malvin was changed to Margarete. Szell’s maternal grandfather changed his family name from Hirschbein to Harmat.5 young George was brought up as a Catholic and taken regularly to Mass. He readily assimilated German as his mother tongue, and adopted the negative attitudes toward Hungary prevalent in Vienna. Contrary to the nature of his business, Szell’s father was relaxed and easygoing at home. to illustrate, a crystal chandelier once fell from the ceiling and smashed to pieces, fortunately harming no one. Mrs. Szell became excited and screamed, but Mr. Szell calmly said, “God gave it, God took it away.”6 Karl Szell’s business prospered, and routine affairs were left to his father-in-law. this arrangement freed him to indulge his interests in shopping for food and dressing meticulously, as well as pursuing his love of music. father Szell placed much time and importance on the preparation and consumption of the main meal at midday, sometimes spending hours searching for exactly the right piece of meat. Visitors, including their son’s young musician friends, received frequent invitations to enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the Szell family’s dinners.7 everyone was expected to spend hours in conversation at mealtimes.8 More significant was Karl Szell’s passion for music, especially opera. As a student in Paris, he often traveled to london and back solely to hear a favorite opera or singer at Covent Garden.9 later, in Vienna, he attended operas and concerts...

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