#Wilhelm Fürtwangler

[paul-archibald]

Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999)

The most musically gifted violin prodigy of his generation, Yehudi Menuhin was one of the defining figures in 20th-century culture. With a legacy of iconic recordings, improvising with Stéphane Grappelli, performing  ragas with Ravi Shanker and conducting the world’s great orchestras, he devoted his life to breaking down musical barriers.  Edward Elgar (1857-1934)Violin concerto Movt 1 (recorded…

[valinaraii]

Télex from Toscanini (Heaven) to Celidibache (Munich): Dear Sergiu! We have read you in the Spiegel. You get on our nerves, but we forgive you. We have no choice anyway; forgiveness is in style Up Here. Potatosack Karli made some objection, but after Kna[1] and I had a heart-to-heart talk with him, he stopped whinning. Wilhelm [2] now all of a sudden insist that he has never even heard of you. Papa Josef, Wolfgang Amadeus, Ludwig, Johannes and Anton [3] all prefer the second violins on the right and claim that your tempi are all wrong. But actually, they don't really give a damn about it. Up Here, we are not supposed to give a damn about anything. The Boss does not allow it. An old Zen master who lives next door says you got all wrong about Zen Buddhism. Bruno [4] is totally cracked up by your comments. I have the suspicion that he secretly shares your views about me and Karli. Maybe you could say something mean about him for a change; otherwise, he feels so left out. I hate to break it to you, but everybody up here is crazy about Herbert.  In fact, the other conductors are a little jealous of him. We can't wait to welcome him up here in fifteen or twenty years. Too bad you can't be with us then. But people say that where you will go the cuisine is much better, and the orchestras down there never stop rehearsing. They even make little mistakes on purpose, so that you can have a chance to correct them for all eternity. I'm sure you will like that, Sergiu. Up here, the angels read the composer's minds. We conductors only have to listen. Only God knows why I'm here. Have lots of fun, In old friendship, Arturo.

This satyrical letter to Celibidache published on Der Spiegel is attributed to Carlos Kleiber. The letter was a reply to Celibidache’s comments about other conductors, past and present. About Karajan, he had said he was “horrible”, and called Karl Böhm (the Karlin in the letter), “a sack of potatos”. Other victims of Celibidache’s sharp tongue were the then young Claudio Abbado (”totally bereft of any talent”) and Riccardo Muti (”talented but ignorant”). It must be said that Kleiber wasn’t among the conductors attacked by Celibidache. Translations of this letter abound. This one can be found here.

[1] Hans Knappertsbuch [2] Wilhelm Fürtwangler [3] Obviously Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner [4] Bruno Walter.