The German
Wilhelm-Furtwängler-Society (WFG)
The German Wilhelm-Furtwängler-Gesellschaft (WFG) was founded in 1976 in Berlin: Its aim is to preserve the artistic accomplishments of the conductor, composer and author Wilhelm Furtwängler. The Furtwängler-Society organises concerts, lectures and other programmes, it releases selected and outstanding recordings by Furtwängler, it promotes the valorisation of the artist’s estate, as well as the co-operation with similar institutions which pursue identical goals in Germany and abroad.
We remember Wilhelm Furtwängler, who died 70 years ago, with statements by the conductor and composer and his contemporaries, quotes from Furtwängler's writings as well as documents, reviews, programmes, photos and other finds.
Recommendation to Munich
"... May I take the liberty of drawing your attention to Kapellmeister Furtwängler, who will be conducting one of the next concerts [of the Münchner Konzertverein]? If my reference succeeds in persuading you to attend this concert, I can spare myself any further recommendation of this young artist, of whose talent, ability, deeply genuine musicality and effect on the listener I have the highest opinion..."
BRUNO WALTER, conductor in a letter to Ernst Ritter von Possart, General Director of the Royal Court Theatre in Munich
26 June 1914
1928 - Premiere of Schönberg's Variations for Orchestra
Arnold Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra were premiered 95 years ago by the Berliner Philharmoniker under Wilhelm Furtwängler's baton. Volker Tarnow describes how the premiere came about and why it turned into a fiasco under News.
"Time Layers - Magnetic Tape Technology as a Cultural Carrier" for free download
With the 2007 published comprehensive book "Zeitschichten" (Time Layers) wrote Friedrich Engel, Gerhard Kuper, Frank Bell and Wulf Münzner a standard work on the history of tape and tape recorder technology. "Zeitschichten" is an encyclopaedic reference work, which is also recommended for reading by the less technology-savvy music lovers. The authors now make their book available for free download. Further information can be found here...
Found Pieces
In this section we would like to draw your attention to interesting documents or texts on Wilhelm Furtwängler in a loose sequence.
Details on news.
Become a member
Join the Wilhelm Furtwängler Society and support our work. You will be able to order CDs of Wilhelm Furtwängler recordings issued by our society. The current annual membership fee is 50 € per person. Joint or family membership are available for an annual fee of 70 €. Students, trainees and pupils benefit from a reduced annual fee of 25 €. For institutions or associations, corporate membership are available for an annual fee of 100 €. We are always delighted to receive higher voluntary contributions or a donations. Please follow this link to the online membership application form. You can find our statutes here.
We are collaborating with the following Furtwängler Societies in France and Japan:
Biography
For informations on Furtwänglers life and work look here: