Relaţii româno-germane în perioada interbelică: cazul muzicienilor George Georgescu şi Richard Strauss
Romanian-German relations in the interwar period: the case of musicians George Georgescu and Richard Strauss

Summary/Abstract: Between George Georgescu and Richard Strauss there existed a very strong and particular relationship, which appeared to be extremely beneficial to the Romanian symphonic music. In his Berlin period, when George Georgescu found himself there to study the cello, he happened to have some problems with his left hand. Those problems were meant to change his musical destiny: from a cello player into an orchestra conductor. During his stay there he became acquainted with many famous musicians of the time and thus, he was given the chance to conduct the German Philharmonic Orchestra in the capital of Germany, in 1918. After the aftermath of the WW II he returned to Romania where he amazed the specialists in the domain and, subsequently, he was appointed director of the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1921, Richard Strauss himself - who at the time was considered to be one of the most famous musicians of the world - came to Romania. All symphony music lovers and devotees were extremely enthusiastic at the news. That event was again a proof of the close relationship between the Bavarian maestro and George Georgescu, a lasting relationship that ran along years on end. Neither the position of a President of the Reichsmusikkammer nor the difficulties the Nazi regime made him face with could discourage Strauss to decline the nice and pleasant recollections about his ex- apprentice or to ask him for help in bitter and burdensome moments. The Romanian symphony music had much to profit from the friendship between Richard Strauss and George Georgescu and the international recognition of the Romanian conductor was and is a lasting standing proof.

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