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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: Furtwangler War Years Recording
Post Subject: Another anxiety story -- Rother or in fact Furtwangler??Posted by Gregm on: 2/15/2007

There is a live recording (in stereo) of Beet 5th piano with Gieseking/Rother/Greater Orch of the 3rd Reich. The concert took place in 1944 and, allegedly, Hitler was present. The conductor is reported as Rother -- but there's a rumour (urban legend?) that in fact it was Furt.

But speaking of Furt's tempi, there are two interesting performances of the 9th each with its own "anxiety inspiring" tempo: one live Berlin in 1942, and another in Stockholm in 1943.

I hadn't until now noticed bombs or gunfire in Berlin -- but will try Romy's trick (as far as I can apply it...) for extra anxiety effect.

I love these "situationally significant" musical testaments.

Finally, among many such recordings, there is an interesting Beet violin concerto with Mitropoulos/NYP/Heifetz recorded live in 1956 (I think -maybe '54). At certain moments it sounds like a "triangular confrontation" concerto: violin vs. conductor vs. orchestra. I have listened to the original LP and the result is captivating; the reissues, some of which I have, are flat by comparison.

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