Furtwängler saved the lives of many Jewish musicians, during the war. He also helped people like Horenstein, Markevitch and Scherchen, as I recall, in their moment of need. I interviewed F.'s wife, Elisabeth, around 1992, concerning F. as composer, and she told me he exhausted himself helping people. It is easy to criticize, of course.
I wonder if people think he should have fled and not helped anyone, or whether they'd have preferred he be a martyr in the 1930's and not leave the world all the musical riches that he did.
By staying in Germany, WF was able to materially help people from the inside as well as providing hope for all like-minded Germans who were against the regime. He was literally safe-guarding his country in the only way he could. Leaving would have only served his reputation abroad for symbolic reasons, not material. I happen to think that WF’s refusal to abandon his people and culture, at the cost of his personal reputation, was a reflection of his integrity and his greatness. Just as he exhibited as a musician, WF as a person could only live a life of personal conviction, not of calculated political expediency. He could not abandon his home. That was the essence of it.
Furtwängler was what he was, and I see no reason to hold anything against him. One cannot expect a great artist to be a hero, too. Everything looks clear and simple from a distance, but it's not the same as being in the midst of it.
This is more educational that I'd wished it needed to be in 2017 so it's all the more important that you posted this. As someone with a Park Avenue NYC Jewish mother and a father born in Florence Italy as an Austrian who was the youngest person in the Hitler youth I am proud to be Jewish where it's even ok to be atheist. But as a leftist who hates Trump, I'm getting sick of the "Trump is an Insult to Hitler" jokes. I hear that crap all the time here in Vancouver the left has become too regressive and it's refreshing to see my personal favourite conductor Hohenstein of my favourite composer Mahler defend Furtwangler. Where would Mahler are without Wagner? See Curb Your Enthusiasm season 2 "Trick or Treat" in which Larry David gets busted whistling "Siegfried's Idyll" from another Jewish guy. How would a conservative Jew recognize Siegfried's Idyll anyway, let alone whistle out of tune?!? But I digress. Thanks for posting, Misha, I never even knew live videos of interviews with J.H. existed. It's true a thing to be grateful for. To me it's all about great music after all.
Merci à Horenstein de rétablir une certaine vérité sur l'aveuglement volontaire de Furwangler face au nazisme dont il fut le complice inavoué et lâche .Mais le grand chef restera pour l'éternité un incomparable interprète, nous laissant un legs inestimable.
should we argue that Lenny should've left the U.S.A. because of Vietnam, was Vietnam any less evil? Should every American conductor and soloist leave the country because of Trump, who is just as much of an idiot as any political regime? Of course the nazis were worse, but what I'm asking is, when does an artist protest with resignation? At first they feel it is their duty to stay and protect and guard and preserve the culture, but it only took the nazis under 10 years to destroy all that was "german" for a sick ideal. Where is the rulebook on when to jump ship? Just wondering.
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Furtwängler saved the lives of many Jewish musicians, during the war. He also helped people like Horenstein, Markevitch and Scherchen, as I recall, in their moment of need. I interviewed F.'s wife, Elisabeth, around 1992, concerning F. as composer, and she told me he exhausted himself helping people. It is easy to criticize, of course.
I have never seen one criticism of Rostropovich and Vishnevskaya for performing for every dictator of the Soviet Union.
Very insightful.
I wonder if people think he should have fled and not helped anyone, or whether they'd have preferred he be a martyr in the 1930's and not leave the world all the musical riches that he did.
By staying in Germany, WF was able to materially help people from the inside as well as providing hope for all like-minded Germans who were against the regime. He was literally safe-guarding his country in the only way he could. Leaving would have only served his reputation abroad for symbolic reasons, not material. I happen to think that WF’s refusal to abandon his people and culture, at the cost of his personal reputation, was a reflection of his integrity and his greatness. Just as he exhibited as a musician, WF as a person could only live a life of personal conviction, not of calculated political expediency. He could not abandon his home. That was the essence of it.
Furtwängler was what he was, and I see no reason to hold anything against him. One cannot expect a great artist to be a hero, too. Everything looks clear and simple from a distance, but it's not the same as being in the midst of it.
He used the 'medical' reason as an excuse!!!!!! What would you have done, Jascha????
This is more educational that I'd wished it needed to be in 2017 so it's all the more important that you posted this. As someone with a Park Avenue NYC Jewish mother and a father born in Florence Italy as an Austrian who was the youngest person in the Hitler youth I am proud to be Jewish where it's even ok to be atheist. But as a leftist who hates Trump, I'm getting sick of the "Trump is an Insult to Hitler" jokes. I hear that crap all the time here in Vancouver the left has become too regressive and it's refreshing to see my personal favourite conductor Hohenstein of my favourite composer Mahler defend Furtwangler. Where would Mahler are without Wagner? See Curb Your Enthusiasm season 2 "Trick or Treat" in which Larry David gets busted whistling "Siegfried's Idyll" from another Jewish guy. How would a conservative Jew recognize Siegfried's Idyll anyway, let alone whistle out of tune?!? But I digress. Thanks for posting, Misha, I never even knew live videos of interviews with J.H. existed. It's true a thing to be grateful for. To me it's all about great music after all.
Foot bangers😁😁, food when that😁😁
Merci à Horenstein de rétablir une certaine vérité sur l'aveuglement volontaire de Furwangler face au nazisme dont il fut le complice inavoué et lâche .Mais le grand chef restera pour l'éternité un incomparable interprète, nous laissant un legs inestimable.
The closed-caption text for this is hilarious.
PraetervolansNoctua...I agree
And in addtion he ecpressedbhis attitude towards the NAZI throzg his conducting!!! Genious
We shouldn't be labelling a "great musician", as Horenstein himself calls Furtwängler, "a weak man".
I am not fond of most of Beethoven or Mahler:.Whenever I do listen: Its' Jascha Horenstein. The Best "Erioca" and the BEST Mahler's 1st symphony
should we argue that Lenny should've left the U.S.A. because of Vietnam, was Vietnam any less evil? Should every American conductor and soloist leave the country because of Trump, who is just as much of an idiot as any political regime? Of course the nazis were worse, but what I'm asking is, when does an artist protest with resignation? At first they feel it is their duty to stay and protect and guard and preserve the culture, but it only took the nazis under 10 years to destroy all that was "german" for a sick ideal. Where is the rulebook on when to jump ship? Just wondering.
You know white (Bruno Walter)😁
It seems that Mr Horenstein hated Furtwângler.... . Furtwängler was a great genius, Horenstein was not ...