Bartók wrote what we now know as his second violin concerto right before the war, his country on the brink of being invaded by the German army. Yet somehow the work was premiered in Amsterdam, by the Concertgebouw Orchestra under Willem Mengelberg. Right after the war Mengelberg was never allowed to stand before an orchestra because of his dubious role during the German occupation of the Netherlands. Bartók himself never saw that premiere: he first saw his own work performed in 1943, after he escaped the fascist regime and landed safely in New York.
Bartók’s first concerto was written in 1909, but published well after his death. It was published as op. posth.: posthumous, after the death of the composer. So now this one is known as number two.
A surprisingly good performance and recording. I was expecting bad, flat sound and slow tempo, but I was pleasantly surprised. I can recommend a listen.