Chris Bonds wrote of Barenboim and Furtwaengler: >I read someplace that B took some of his inspiration from F. Certainly >that could be the case but I seriously doubt he was ever a "pupil." I've >never heard of it anyhow. Barenboim played for Furtwaengler (I believe at Salzburg) when he (Barenboim) was a youngster; there is even a photo extent showing Barenboim, in short pants, standing with his family in front of Furtwaengler. My recollection is that Furtwaengler then wrote a letter stating that "Daniel Barenboim is a phenomenon." Barenboim belongs to a group of well-known performers who were young in the 60's and 70's who were enormously impressed with the recordings they acquired of Furtwaengler's performances. I think most of the others have moved on, but Barenboim still remains devoted and influenced and has (I think) a picture of Furtwaengler in his home. [Like many of us.:-)] Like Chris, I don't often find the same satisfaction in Barenboim's recordings that I do in Furtwaengler's, but listen to the tempo modification at the end of the third movement of Barenboim's recording of Brahms' First Symphony with the CSO: a much shorter term effect than many of Furtwaengler's, but it sure works for me. Nick [log in to unmask]