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WILHELM FURTWAENGLER

Currency:USD Category:Music Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,200.00 USD
WILHELM FURTWAENGLER
(1886 - 1954) German conductor and composer widely considered to have been one of the greatest symphonic and operatic conductors of the 20th century. His decision to remain in Nazi Germany damaged his reputation in some circles. Historic content T.L.S. and accompanying typed D.S. in which Furtwaengler presents his views on the "expression of music in Germany" and music criticism by state-approved critics to Minister of Propaganda JOSEPH GOEBBELS. The cover letter is 1p. 4to., Potsdam, Nov. 26, 1936 to Goebbels, in part: "...State Secretary [Walther] Funk was kind enough to read a confidential passage from your upcoming speech about the [music] criticism. Since it is not possible for me to speak personally to you, I would like to respond as a concerned, involved artist regarding the future of the expression of music in Germany to these complex questions...Heil Hitler...". The accompanying typed statement, also signed by Furtwaengler, is 3pp. 4to., also dated and signed in Potsdam on Nov. 26. He writes: "...when the criticism by the press of music is eliminated, then the listeners, the audience and the public, can only judge by the evening's applause...but the applause is in no way a yardstick of success or judgment by the public...a critique by the press is not always an expression of the opinion of the public...but due to the dominance of the press and the radio today, it becomes the only way for the public to form an opinion...and if it is not possible to express the public's approval, there are the following consequences...already established artists will become lazy and negligent because there is no competition...foreigners will have no reason to come to Germany or Berlin, the former center of the music world...it is not foreseeable how...such a far-ranging elimination...of the discussion by the public...will have an effect on the visits by orchestras...since music is not like food, necessary to survive, the elimination of competition makes it lose its importance to the public...only through competition will there be great results...only the great art and artists are important to the people, not the mediocre...only the mediocre will survive in this manner...". Clearly, Furtwaengler has taken exception to Goebbels' and the Nazi's insistence on what he has labeled as the "mediocre" - Wagnerian operas, folk tunes, etc., much the same as modern artists of that time saw their works labeled as "degenerate". File holes at margins, edges scorched where an attempt was made to burn Goebbels' files, still near fine.