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Wilhelm Furtwangler

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Conductor

The Resume

    (January 25, 1886-November 30, 1954)
    Legendary conductor
    Led the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra from 1922 until his death in 1954

Why he might be annoying:

    He stayed in Nazi Germany while many of his colleagues were being hounded out of the country.
    He fathered at least four children out of wedlock.
    His conducting style has been compared to a spastic puppet on a string.
    He looked like Montgomery Burns from 'The Simpsons.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He appears on a German postage stamp.
    He was a brilliant interpreter of the great German composers, including Beethoven, Wagner, and Brahms.
    While he did stay in Nazi Germany, he did things that hardly endeared him to Adolf Hitler, including refusing to salute Adolf Hitler and not starting his concerts with the Nazi anthem.
    He conducted the debut of an opera ('Mathis der Maler' by Paul Hindemith) which was condemned by the Nazis as decadent.
    He fled Germany toward the end of World War II when Albert Speer informed him that he was being targeted for eradication by the Nazis.
    He was officially cleared of collaborating with the Nazis by an Allied tribunal.
    Despite his name being cleared, he was turned down as director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra after several subscribers and performers threaten to boycott the orchestra's performances.

Credit: IbnBorca of Elkabar


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 90.91% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 17 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 19 Votes: 78.95% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 27 Votes: 74.07% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 40 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 60.87% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 45 Votes: 57.78% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 45 Votes: 62.22% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 51 Votes: 62.75% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 41 Votes: 63.41% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 115 Votes: 62.61% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 134 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 179 Votes: 54.19% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 237 Votes: 56.12% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 566 Votes: 46.47% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 412 Votes: 53.64% Annoying