From: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu (Bob Kosovsky)
Subject: Furtwaengler on Toscanini
Reply-To: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Organization: Computer Center, CUNY Graduate School, New York NY 10036
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 04:42:56 GMT

Recently we came into possession of a cache of letters from
Furtwaengler to a conductor-friend.  These letters were in
private possession, and so were not available to any of the
authors of recent biographies.

The following is a very rough translation (made by a colleague)
of a letter in which Furtwaengler criticizes Toscanini.  I would
suggest that the comments be taken with a grain of salt.  It must
be remembered that this was written while Toscanini was on tour
with the La Scala orchestra -- not an orchestra that regularly
did symphonic music.  And although Toscanini had already done
quite a lot of symphonic music by 1924, it was not yet part of
his staple repertoire (as it would become a few years later when
he became directly of the New York Philharmonic).  Still further,
the lack of any real positive comment makes me think that
Furtwaengler might have been quite a bit jealous -- the comment
about inaccuracy is one that for which Furtwaengler was often
criticized, and rarely was it leveled again Toscanini (who
excelled in orchestral accuracy).  Neverthess, this is
historically a very interesting document.

This, and the other letters by Furtwaengler are not yet available
to the public.

-------------------------------------------
7 July 1924
St. Moritz

Dear Friend,

Our letters crossed.  Your opinion of Toscanini is very mediocre
and retiring, just about like mine after the first concert which
I heard.  But when I heard yet a second one it became clear to me
that my reservations which I had from the beginning, were only
too justified.  Thus, I judge even considerably more harshly than
you.  Truly, he is superior to our Busch, Walter, etc. in so far
as with him everything is worked out, nothing is left to chance;
of course he has an energetic--simple, fully factual--serious
manner, without any pose, to come to terms with the music.  But
that is all.  That he truly has an effect on the public, is
disputed by my wife, who is more sensitive, and I have to agree
with her.  The suggestion, the press campaign do their part;
besides, especially in Switzerland, we hear good orchestras too
seldom to be able to make a comparison at all.  In Vienna, in
Berlin, it might be different.  The sound of the orchestra is not
shaped, neither precision nor truly experienced and roundness of
tone, homogeneity.  Everything absolutely remained bare
brickwork, correct, naked, cold.  The brilliance which dominates
everything is the brilliance of a perfect military band.  And
still an essential point.  He has no idea of the true symphonic
life in the music, of development, structure.  That became
apparent from the start in a frightening degree (2nd and 4th
movements of the symphony); even Tristan Prelude, etc.).
Moreover, I became aware that the Mediterraneans don't have any
symphonies, never owned or wrote any.  Bizet Arlesienne Suite and
the like are yet the best of the kind (Berlioz belongs to the
German history of music in so far as he is symphonist in
earnest).  The Mediterraneans cannot let a form develop by
itself, they are always finished already (they even cut their
opera finales into pieces!)  Thus, it cannot be surprising that
Toscanini's Beethoven, in so far as that is possible, is the most
boring "tradition," his Brahms, however is absolutely impossible.
I myself felt, from the second piece of the first concert,
unqualified boredom.  I cannot help it -- and I have to say that
I do not hold somebody like Walter in equally high esteeem as
"master of discipline" or energy source, but that he seems to me
decidedly superior as an artist.

The fame of Toscanini seems to be based partly on his memory, and
his uncompromising ruler personality, and partly on his roots in
facist Italy.  Nothing derives from the artist in him, for he is,
at least as long as he conducts symphonies, boring and mediocre.
In Italian operas that may be different.  But actually, it seems
to be time for someone to express that openly, or don't we know
at all any more what art is?

How are you?  I am working a lot.  You will hear from me again
soon.

Cordial greetings, also from my wife,

Always yours,

W.F. [Wilhelm Furtwaengler]
[end of letter]

Bob Kosovsky
Graduate Center -- Ph.D. Program in Music(student)/ City University of New York
New York Public Library -- Music Division
bitnet:   kos@cunyvms1.bitnet        internet: kos@cunyvms1.gc.cuny.edu
Disclaimer:  My opinions do not necessarily represent those of my institutions.
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