1/ That final @BerlinPhil concert in April '45, pre Russian invasion, turns out to have been conducted not by any of the usual suspects, but by Leo Borchard - unknown b/c he was shot by American troops by accident that August. The concert was played at the Staatsoper because. . .

2/ Because the hall traditionally used, the lovely Alte Berliner Philharmonie, had been bombed by Allies on 30 Jan 1944. Here it is before, during, and after. //