From 1922 until 1935, Geissmar worked for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Furtwangler, including planning and organising foreign tours for the orchestra.
15 Facts About Berta Geissmar
1.
2.
The family was very musical, and Berta Geissmar's father was one of the organisers and guarantors of a local society which presented concerts by leading soloists and chamber ensembles.
3.
When Furtwangler was 15, Berta Geissmar's quartet played through one of Furtwangler's early quartets.
4.
Berta Geissmar accompanied Furtwangler on his debut appearances with the New York Philharmonic in 1924.
5.
Berta Geissmar accompanied him as his secretary to the 1931 Bayreuth Festival.
6.
Berta Geissmar's memoirs, written during the war, describe how Nazi ideology eroded the artistic ideals of German musicians.
7.
When in 1934 Furtwangler resigned all his state positions in protest at a ban on the composer Hindemith, all Jews, including Berta Geissmar, were purged from the BPO.
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Edward VIII 8.
Berta Geissmar had known him since 1927 through her work with the BPO - he had conducted the BPO, and had personally guaranteed one of their English tours after their English agent had become insolvent.
9.
Berta Geissmar arrived in London in April 1936 and Beecham appointed her as his permanent secretary.
10.
Berta Geissmar used her European contacts to plan tours abroad for the LPO, including to Germany in 1936.
11.
Berta Geissmar played a key part in organising European contributions to Covent Garden's celebrations of the coronation of King Edward VIII planned for 12 May 1937.
12.
Berta Geissmar's inquiries convinced her that Ribbentrop's men lacked the necessary experience so she placed the German work in the hands of the BPO who were delighted by the opportunity.
13.
Berta Geissmar visited Bayreuth to get recommendations for Beecham's 1938 Wagner productions and used her tact to reconcile their opinions with those of Beecham.
14.
Berta Geissmar had a visit from a pastor, a friend of Martin Niemoller, who had inspired her on 31 Dec 1934 when she was at a low ebb after leaving Furtwangler.
15.
In 1943, as Berta Geissmar finished her book, he had not yet returned to England.