Much is spoken of the sad fate that is currently that of Venezuela.
So this is a good opportunity to remind everyone that this country has known happier days, and notably its capital, Caracas, which offered Furtwängler the grandiose setting of the José Angel Lamas Amphitheatre — also known as the Concha Acústica of Bello Monte — which, from the audience’s viewpoint, stands out against the mountainous landscape that borders the city to the north.
It is a sultry March evening, and Furtwängler is rehearsing with the Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela for the concerts marking the inauguration of the building.