Furtwängler explains himself in French and in German
OrchestrasTwo very rare videos from our archives.
Watch here.
Today is the 70th anniversary of his death and no orchestra that he worked with – Berlin, Vienna, Philharmonia – has bothered to commemorate it.
Listen to this account of the Tannhäuser overture. Does any other conductor come close to his hypnotic grip?
Because 70th is not a particularly significant anniversary, and because 75th is right around the corner?
His accent in French sounds more English than German, he has less of a Teutonic accent than Karl Lagerfeld who spent his entire adult life in France, although I suspect he was reading a text rather than speaking in an interview.
In one of these videos F says that European classical music only continues to exist, if Europa as such continues to exist. Not true: Western / European classical music is now all over the planet and even booming in Asia. Who would have thought that, shortly after WW II?
Good point. Major western conservatories have been full of asian students for many decades. Does anyone how far back the trend goes, and how it started?
I’ve never been a Furtwangler fan. Given the ancient sound, the sometimes sloppiness of the playing and the limited repertoire, it just doesn’t hold my attention. Except for that stunning Tristan – that is one sensational reading. I wonder how many people are still alive who actually heard him live? Besides Barenboim.
Absolutely stunning performance!!