jaisondb (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Mas se a uma confusão quanto a data do video, porque no final de video entra a 3rd Symphony(Eroica)?

Swetrade (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Thanks for the video! Just a detail: I don't think the date April 19is correct. There's a recording from March 18-22 1942, which matches well both in sound and performance with this video.Peter Anders is on that recording and I think he can be recognised as well in this video. Where is Hitler, if this is April 19? I don't think he would accept sitting in the back. The recordings from April 19 doesn't have this videos good sound quality.

nextren (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Hitler is at 2:38 in the middle of the row on the far right. He looks like he's enjoying himself on his birthday. I believe that's Goebbels on his right. Speaking of Goebbels, that's him shaking Furtwangler's hand at 4:27. Furtwangler seems ill at ease there. It's a damn good performance though.

sthaer (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

And retracted this dedication when Napleon attacked Vienna and turned out not to be the libertarian Beethoven made him out to be.

RaoulShade (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Unfortunately, not only Furtwangler was blind to totalitarian regimes, many other famous writers and poets supported Stalin and Mao for long time. There you are. These are the paradoxes of art. But blind doesnt mean actively supporting genocides. That is another issue.

RaoulShade (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Very good point.

ppchak77 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Don't agree.. even Toscanini used to recognise Furtwaengler as the other best man of music.. If we understand with our limited musical knowledge that "it is a music of love for mankind", do you think a conductor like Furtwaengler did not? It is his media for expressing himself.. not everyone wanted to leave the country, not Heisenberg for example.. ! The same Beethoven had dedicated his music (symphony no. 3) to Napoleon by the way.. ;)

LARRYSIEGEL123 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

toscanini protested hitler and his totalitarian state and woud not conduct wagner in germany . toscanini did the same in his native land italy and then came to the usa and supported the war effort. i think deaf as he was beethoven must have turned over in his grave when he heard who was conducting and using his music written with love of mankind for a nazi audiance. cosmo

pianist12 (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Sorry, but the last few measures were too fast and out of control balance wise(BASS DRUM& CYMBALS!)

lovelymess (December 31, 1969 at 4:59 pm)

Thank you my friend. I ADORE German Music be it Beethoven Brahms Wagner or Bach... The music comes form a divinely inspired gift and is not to be exploited for any political purposes, even if those who do take personal character flaws of the artists, such as Wagner's anti semitism, and twist them for their own propaganda. As for those who cannot hear the sublime greatness of this recording, I simply shake my head at you. You don't hear it, and you never will.