Biography

January 25, 1886 · Berlin, Germany

November 30, 1954 · Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany

Gustav Heinrich Ernst Martin Wilhelm Furtwängler

His career took a tragic turn in the 1930s, when he chose to stay in Germany rather than emigrate to the US as so many other European conductors had done. He apparently considered himself an upholder and protector of German music against the Nazi influence, but he did accept the sponsorship of Joseph Goebbels, which branded him a collaborator in the eyes of many. Many musicians, including Arturo Toscanini, denounced him, and an uproar arose in the New York Philharmonic when it was learned he had been selected to conduct a concert there--an offer that was promptly withdrawn. But Furtwangler was not anti-Semitic, and he helped and protected many Jewish musicians at the same time that he accepted Nazi sponsorship. The sponsorship tarnished his reputation, although he was "de-Nazified" after the war. He died a broken man, but in spite of approaching deafness, he did conduct some notable performances toward the end of his life, such as his "Don Giovanni" at Salzburg. (It was filmed in color in 1955, recorded on LP, and released on compact disc in the 1980's. A DVD of the film version has also been released.)

Over the last twenty years or so, however, his reputation has enjoyed a resurgence - unfortunately (and unfairly) at the expense of his most famous rival, Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini. Most critics now consider Furtwangler the greatest German conductor of the 20th century.

The motion picture "Taking Sides" is about the US accusations against him.

Stepfather of actress Kathrin Ackermann who married his nephew Bernhard Furtwängler. Their daughter Maria Furtwängler is also a popular actress.

Musical Director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1922 to 1945 and 1952 to 1954