More than twenty-five years ago, Michel Chauvy wrote a study on “Furtwängler and Switzerland” for the SWF, published as a “newsletter”.

The text of his study is still as good as new. It is rich in information and the comments on some of Furtwängler’s performances — one thinks of the rehearsal of the 7th Symphony or Beethoven’s First Concerto — are of a rare relevance.

Although the original “paper” brochure was quite attractive, the PDF available to members on the previous website had become outdated and not particularly inviting to read. We therefore thought it best to give it a new layout, by re-editing the text in the same design as the other studies, adding footnotes, and illustrating it with a dozen or so photographs, some of them unpublished or rare.

For the first time, the study is published in both French and English, thus bringing this essential document to a wider audience.

In addition, one of our Swiss members, Christophe Lambinet, wrote a “complement”, shedding new light on Furtwängler’s “Swiss” discography.

To discover these studies, click on the images below.

Furtwängler conducted only one concert in Warsaw. It was on January 22, 1936, with the BPO, in the beautiful Philharmonic Hall.

This concert did not go unnoticed, with the patronage of two Polish government ministers and the German ambassador.

Here is the programme — in an uncommon format —which was attached to the concert, we were able to correct the content.

The Wilhelm Furtwängler Centre of Japan announces two new releases.
Informations and orders only with the WF Centre of Japan : info@furt-centre.com

We recently uploaded the 40th programme —  we mean the 40th PDF file of a printed booklet accompanying a concert. And we have some more in store, which will be published in the future.

Through publications on specialized sites or — notably online — sales, we have also been able to recover many ‘programme pages’, we mean the page — and only this page — of the original programme with the details of the concert, or a flyer. Our site already had quite a few (almost 150!). We add about twenty more today — details below:

BPO 31/10/1921 — BPO 12/12/1921 — Gewandhaus 6/03/1923 — BPO 16/03/1928 — BPO 10/03/1931 — BPO 30/03/1931 — BPO 14/04/1934 — BPO 11/12/1938 — VPO 23/11/1941 — VPO 29/03/1942 — VPO 7/11/1943 — VPO 19/12/1943 — Hamburg 9/06/1947 — VPO 29/11/1947 — BPO 8/06/1950 — BPO 12/06/1950 — VPO 17/09/1950 — Salzburg 7/08/1951 — Salzburg 19/08/1951 — BPO 6/05/1952 — BPO 18/01/1953

We wish you happy holidays. See you again at the end of August.

In 1942, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is sixty years old. In the midst of WW2, it is obviously unthinkable that the event could be celebrated as the fiftieth anniversary had been.

At least the orchestra publishes a small brochure at the return from the summer holidays; very interesting with hindsight, as its writing reflects the highlights and taboos of the moment.

Click here to read this brochure.

This eighty-year-old document had been acquired at the time by Marie-Luise Lüdeling, music teacher in Berlin-Lichterfelde. Thank you, Madam.

A few days after recording Bruckner’s Ninth with his Berlin Philharmonic for a “Magnetofonkonzert” — a disc that became famous — Furtwängler conducts this symphony for the last time in the grandiose setting of the abbey of Saint Florian. A small study evokes this musical event.

Concerts of December 7-8, 1952

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony – 1937

Informations and orders only with the Japanese WF Society : info@furt-centre.com

On Saturday May 21, 2022, members of the Board and members of the SWF met informally to discuss the the conclusions of the consultation of the members of the SWF.

Although few in number (17 answers, approximately 7% of the members), the answers received were very interesting.

The six main themes that emerged from the survey are:

1. Conferences

Conferences is a strong request. The 2022-2023 season is therefore to be prepared, with 5 or 6 evenings. If you would like to host one, do not hesitate to contact us.

Desired topics are: WF and Berlioz, WF opera conductor, WF accompanist. Georges Zeisel proposes a conference on WF and the violinist Bronislaw Huberman. Christian Lemaire proposes an evening around Lauritz Melchior.

A relocation of the conferences in the provinces is requested by members but to do this, it would be necessary that, on the spot, someone manages the logistics: finding the room, advertising, etc.

A broadcast by Zoom (or other) of the conferences could be considered. The problem of sound quality and other technical aspects remains to be seen. One of our members could help us on these subjects.

2. SWF Editorial Policy

The download policy is not called into question. However, on-demand engravings should be made possible.

Exceptional CD editions could be considered, in a richly documented and illustrated edition (Ex: Wagner in London in the 1930s). Such a project requires economic viability. A subscription is therefore necessary, which could be done in collaboration with the other WF societies.

The downloading of our exhausted references will go on.

A project to put a French music program online is proposed. Debussy : Nuages, Fêtes / Ravel : Rhapsodie Espagnole. 

3. Collaborations with other associations (outside Furtwängler societies)

Some members wish to collaborate with the Richard Wagner Society or the Beethoven Society, for example. It would be necessary to see in what framework these collaborations could be made.

4. General Assemblies

The possibility of a retransmission of our GA via Zoom (or other) has been requested by members. The technical aspect (large screen, etc.) is to be considered. One of our members offers to give the SWF an overhead projector.

5. How to attract a younger audience?

Important subject but not easy to answer. Are young people interested in the CD or the download? Could a Facebook (or other) page be a lead?

6. Organization of concerts with works by Furtwängler

One of our members told us about the violinist Jean-Luc Richardoz who particularly likes WF sonatas. In which context to organize a concert? For the next ordinary general meeting? Beforehand, we will contact Mr. Richardoz.

Next ordinary general meeting

It will take place on Saturday November 26, 2022.

The members present expressed their satisfaction with this informal meeting.

The SWF is reviving what had become its custom, though latterly somewhat neglected: a download of a concert programme in pdf.

We resume this practice on a grand scale, presenting not a programme of a single concert, but that of a festival in which Furtwängler played the major part: the festivities in Vienna marking the centenary of the birth of Brahms. Organized jointly by the Brahms Society (Germany) and the Society of Friends of Music (Austria), under the aegis of the presidents of the two states, its impact was felt far beyond its Viennese context. And also for political reasons: some of the artists presented could no longer appear on a Reich poster, and many commentators did not hesitate to compare this celebration to those presented in Germany.

To download the programme

Dear members,

Some time ago, you responded to tour consultation with SWF members. Be thanked for it.

Circumstances have forced us to delay the feedback to your answers. We would like to meet with you on Saturday May 21, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In order to plan this meeting properly (size of the room to be rented), could you tell us if you will be able to attend this meeting?

We are waiting for your answers until April 15.

Sincerely,
The Executive Board