It has been suggested that we should write a study about Furtwängler as a ‘chamber musician’, performing as a pianist in chamber music sessions with, among others, the soloists of his orchestras. This applies particularly to his periods in Lübeck and Mannheim.
But we should not forget the conference speaker. His Bruckner conference, often dated to 1939, was held on 4 January 1940 in Berlin's Beethovensaal. Furtwängler had recently become president of the German branch of the International Anton Bruckner Society. The text — in French — can be found in the writings published in the Pluriel collection of the Livre de Poche. At the very end of the speech, Furtwängler mentions Wilhelm Kempff's musical performance, opening the evening, and the performance, to end it, of the Adagio from the Quintet.
Here are the details.
