The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #164254   Message #3929702
Posted By: Steve Shaw
07-Jun-18 - 06:11 PM
Thread Name: BS: Emotional Subjects
Subject: RE: BS: Emotional Subjects
Interesting topic. If you're talking about Nazi works of art, what about Wagner? There's no doubt that, had he lived half a century later, he would have been Hitler's cheerleader and would have applauded the Holocaust. He's not alone. If you love Carmina Burana, or have ever sung in it, a bit of research into Carl Orff's predilections may make you uncomfortable. The conductor Herbert Von Karajan was an enthusiastic signed-up Nazi party member during the war. Daniel Barenboim, a Jew, one of my very few musical heroes, caused a stir by conducting Wagner in Israel. I won't listen to any Wagner (I find his music to be an overblown, egotistical musical blind-end in any case, but of course I'm biased) and I turn off the radio if a piece with Karajan conducting is broadcast. That's just my visceral reaction, not a moral crusade. I think I'm keeping within the spirit of the thread: I'm being emotional!