Nearly fifteen years ago, a document from the SWF, Furtwängler in Kassel featured the recollections of Hans Joachim Schaeffer, who worked at the city's Staatstheater, and notably highlighted the importance of the invitation of Furtwängler to conduct the opera orchestra.
On the programme, preceding Beethoven's 1st Symphony: Furtwängler's own 2nd Symphony. Paul Schmitz, the opera's musical director, trained the musicians, with the help of the recording that had just been released by DGG. Furtwängler was very pleased with this preliminary work.
To supplement this concert, here is a pdf version of the facsimile of the programme. This is the only time Furtwängler conducted this orchestra, and we must give him all the recognition he deserves.
Furtwängler and Paul Schmitz, Kassel 1953