Comments on: Music for peace http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/2006/10/23/music-for-peace/ Thoughts by Stephen Soldz on war, peace, politics, psychoanalysis, and research methods Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:12:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Psyche, Science, and Society » Furtwangler, Nazi or Anti-Nazi? http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/2006/10/23/music-for-peace/#comment-9044 Psyche, Science, and Society » Furtwangler, Nazi or Anti-Nazi? Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:13:21 +0000 http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/2006/10/23/music-for-peace/#comment-9044 [...] In response to my post Music for peace this morning, Daily Kos diarist Valtin commented [see comments to that post]: How ironic that Furtwangler should be chosen to promote peace, as he was a prominent conductor in Germany during the Nazi years. To prove I’m not a hypocite (or perhaps that I am), I own some recordings of Furtwangler conducting Wagner, and they are wonderful, with Furtwangler’s interpretations bringing out more the weirdness in Wagner than his bombast. [...] [...] In response to my post Music for peace this morning, Daily Kos diarist Valtin commented [see comments to that post]: How ironic that Furtwangler should be chosen to promote peace, as he was a prominent conductor in Germany during the Nazi years. To prove I’m not a hypocite (or perhaps that I am), I own some recordings of Furtwangler conducting Wagner, and they are wonderful, with Furtwangler’s interpretations bringing out more the weirdness in Wagner than his bombast. [...]

]]> By: Valtin http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/2006/10/23/music-for-peace/#comment-9024 Valtin Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:53:28 +0000 http://psychoanalystsopposewar.org/blog/2006/10/23/music-for-peace/#comment-9024 How ironic that Furtwangler should be chosen to promote peace, as he was a prominent conductor in Germany during the Nazi years. To prove I'm not a hypocite (or perhaps that I am), I own some recordings of Furtwangler conducting Wagner, and they are wonderful, with Furtwangler's interpretations bringing out more the weirdness in Wagner than his bombast. There are many of these German musicians and composers (or conductors -- von Karajan is another) who were compromised by their work under the Nazi regime, or by association with them. (Wagner carries the stigma of the latter, although he died before Hitler was even born.) Richard Strauss also stayed in Germany through the Nazi and war years. I listen to and enjoy Strauss immensely, but I can understand if there were others who found the associations of these individuals to preempt any enjoyment of their work. How ironic that Furtwangler should be chosen to promote peace, as he was a prominent conductor in Germany during the Nazi years. To prove I’m not a hypocite (or perhaps that I am), I own some recordings of Furtwangler conducting Wagner, and they are wonderful, with Furtwangler’s interpretations bringing out more the weirdness in Wagner than his bombast.

There are many of these German musicians and composers (or conductors — von Karajan is another) who were compromised by their work under the Nazi regime, or by association with them. (Wagner carries the stigma of the latter, although he died before Hitler was even born.) Richard Strauss also stayed in Germany through the Nazi and war years. I listen to and enjoy Strauss immensely, but I can understand if there were others who found the associations of these individuals to preempt any enjoyment of their work.

]]>