John G. Deacon ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>The magnificence of the BPO "live" was truly stupendous (even allowing for
>2-3 fluffs in the brass in the Bruckner 7) - and then last night to find
>oneself saddened in hearing the excellent BBC SO (Beethoven 9/Haitink
>again) and realising just what money and good working conditions do for
>Berlin compared to London.

I think it's worth pointing out that the BPO has been publically subsidised
since 1930!

In that year they were on the verge of bankruptcy; this was averted by
funding jointly provided by Berlin city government, the Prussian state
government and the German government.  However (and, to quote Michael
Caine, not a lot of people know this) a condition of that financial help
was that the conductor, a certain Wilhelm Furtwaengler, should sign a
10-year contract with the orchestra.

This commitment was taken VERY seriously by WF and is one of the reasons
he wouldn't leave Germany in the 1930s.

Deryk Barker
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