Furtwängler’s talent as a pianist is well known. Written accounts — far more so than the few recordings that exist — bear witness to this. He began his career as a répétiteur at the opera, then went on to accompany singers in recitals, and performed as a chamber musician in Lübeck and Mannheim. But he also performed as a soloist in his own orchestral concerts. As such he conducted from the keyboard numerous performances of Bach’s 5th Brandenburg Concerto, the Concerto for Three Keyboards by the same composer, and even Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.
Like Bruno Walter, he also made a name for himself with Mozart. Take, for example, the programme from 4 May 1936: the Berlin Philharmonic and their conductor, whilst on tour, stopped off in Stuttgart. And the audience crowded in the Liederhalle would hear Furtwängler’s performance of Mozart’s Concerto in A major (No. 23).
We would have liked to have heard a recording. We’ll have to make do with this facsimile.
