In Memorium Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

A strange character who chooses seven (out of the eight) of her own pieces on Desert Island Discs....

Nigel

She is not unique in that regard - didn't Louis Armstrong do something similar and even go so far as to choose his own autobiography (I wonder if the people who fall into this category have missed the point of the thing).

regards, Tam

Hard core Nazi, not someone to be admired.

G

Dear Graham,

I am sure you know that I am no admirer of the Nazi regime! I am half Norwegian. My granfather was one of the top resistance men... I know a few stories that would make your toes curl about the Nazi occupation...,

But...,

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was no more responsible for what the Nazis did in the war than any other musician or singer in Germany or Axis occupied Europe, who joined the party or not. Karajan joined twice for some reason. Karl Boehm's politics and compliance remain a mistery to some extent. Clemmens Krauss certainly held Nazi views. For small fry, as Scharzfopf was in the Nazi era, joining the party ensured one got a job rather than not. Maybe this is not very brave, but it hardly qualifies her as a hard core Nazi, or do you know more about her activities in that time than has generally been published.

I am not even sure I would regard party membership as even being controvercial, for a junior and up and coming singer. If you are famous then you can get along without joining up of course, very much as Furtwangler did, and even writing open letters to the High Command criticising their policies, but that did not stop him being branded a Nazi conductor for all that, but what on earth does it mean? Interestingly Furtwangler seemed to find an uneasy truce with the Nazi leadership after he was sacked as chief conductor of the BPO for advocating degenerate (their word not mine) music, and trying to keep his Jewish musicians in place. Naturally by 1935 they had also left the Orchestra, for all that...

It would be nice to remember her glorious talents at this time, I would think.

All the best from Fredrik

Fredrik

All very true, but she has long been rumoured to have been the mistress of a top Nazi (probably not Goebbels). She was not, in that regard, small fry. With our libel laws such as they are, no one would publish details about that aspect of her life while she was alive. But the dead can't sue for libel, so perhaps more will emerge now.

Furtwaengler may have, however reluctantantly, become associated with Nazis but (as you observe) did what he could at the time to dissociate himself from them and their policies, at no small risk to himself.

Schwarzkopf, like Boehm, actively associated herself with those vile people.

So, I think that one is entitled to make a judgment.

G

Dear Graham,

Fair comment. I guess time will tell. I suppose I really hope that she is not shewn to have had links at the highest level, but as you say the skeletons will come out now if they exist. Shame really.

ATB from Fredrik

Fredrik

A huge shame. I think that Schwarzkopf was, after Callas, the second most glorious operatic voice of the second half of the last Century. Although they were far apart in repertory, they each had the highest regard for the other (and, in the EMI recording of Turandot under Serafin, Schwarzkopf sang for Callas).

G

Dear Graham,

I tend to think one should wait for proof before making allegations like that - you are however, right to say that more such things may come out now.

However, I think it is important distinguish between someone's art and their views - after all Wagner was pretty clear about his politics and many of his view were utterly disgusting - yet we both still enjoy his music. Indeed, Wagner may perhaps, has shot himself in the foot by writing down his views since there are a number of writers and composers who were clearly anti-semitic but do not get anything like the vilification.

Also worth noting that the horrors of that period required the complicity - to a greater or lesser extent - of millions of Germans (most of whom probably found it easier or safer not to speak out). I think it is difficult to judge as none of us knows how we would react until, god forbid, we find ourselves faced with such choices (we know how we hope we'd behave, or try to, but that is not the same). Also, I'm not sure, even if she was a mistress that is quite what I would term the hard core (what I would term those who were responsible for directing and administering the slaughter of millions).

As you say, history will judge, however that should not stop any us admiring her for the beauty of her art.

regards, Tam

p.s. nice to see you posting again, you seem not to have been around here much lately.