FAMOUS CONDUCTOR

Southland Times, Issue 22498, 7 December 1934, Page 7

FAMOUS CONDUCTOR

RESIGNATION NOT ACCEPTED. GERMAN MUSICAL SENSATION. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Berlin, December 5. Following the resignation of Dr Furtwaengler from the vice-presidency of the Chamber of Music and the conductorship of the Philharmonic Orchestra, musical circles have been astonished by the resignation of Dr Kleiber, DirectorGeneral of the State Opera House, and one of the few world-famed conductors remaining in Germany. General Goering has refused to accept his resignation, consequently, Dr Kleiber will continue compulsorily, but he declares that he will not conduct to-night’s concert. A later message states that. Dr Kleiber’s resignation entailed obtaining a substitute conductor for the philharmonic concert in which the violocellist, Wijlhelm Backhaus, who is well known in Australia and New Zealand, participated. General Goering, refuses to permit Dr Kleiber’s resignation, therefore he compulsorily retains the post. Professor Knappertbusch, conductor of the Munich opera, also offered his resignation, which was not accepted. It is believed that the renowned composer, Faul Hindemith, has relinquished the professorship of the State Musical High School, and that the veteran conductor, Richard * Strauss, has abandoned the presidency of the Chamber of Music. Peter Raabe, musical director at Aix-la-Chapelle, replaces Dr Furtwaengler at the Chamber of Culture celebration on December 6. The situation has caused a sensation in musical Germany. Half of the audience at to-night’s concert demanded their money back when they were informed that Dr Kleiber was not conducting. The money was duly returned.

Dr Furtwaengler has resigned the vice-presidency of the Chamber of Music and the conductorship of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the State Opera owing to differences with leading Nazis regarding the value of Jewish composers’ music.