English Translation

SV copy. Wilhelm Kempff Potsdam, 18.4.1940. Albrechtstrasse 38. Herr Unterstaatseketär _Dr. Kurt_von_Burgsdprff. I would like to respond to your invitation to express myself about the achievements of the Sudetendeutsche Philharmonie. I have to admit that I recently sat down on the piano with mixed feelings during the first rehearsal. These unfair advantages were nevertheless understandable, since I had already heard a lot about the unlucky course of the first German concert winter in Prague. All the more pleased to find an instrument in the Sudetendeutsche Philharmonie, with which it was possible to make magnificent music. As I happened to have a piano concerto (Beethoven C-dur) played countless times and played over it, I had a grateful object of comparison. And I must confess that I soon began to revise my prejudice, especially during the tonally difficult Largo (a delicate piece of woodwind). I later listened to Schubert's great C major in the rehearsal and in the evening. So much seems to me to be certain: if the orchestra had been allowed to continue working under the direction of a "called" conductor and educator without the present distressing worries of existence, I do not see why it would not be in the shortest time with others of the empire, such as Karlsruhe, Bremen, etc. It seemed to me - artistically - to be a mistake to resolve it at this moment, since it has overcome the first childhood diseases. We would deduce ourselves of an instrument whose cultural tasks could never be taken over by an even more outstanding guest orchestra of the Empire. ./.