[Valkyrie conducting slain hero to Valhalla]Daniel Barenboim is a world-famous conductor. He is an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights, a harsh critic of Israeli policies, and has received Palestinian Authority citizenship. In July 2001 he violated the informal ban on performing Wagner in Israel.
Wagner was a virulent anti-Semite and the pagan themes in his operas and other music played a leading role in the cultural imagery of the Third Reich. Holocaust survivors have consistently objected to Wagner being played in Israel. Barenboim, at the request of the Israel Festival which had invited him and the Berlin Staatskappelle orchestra, conducted pieces by Schumann and Stravinsky instead. Then at the end of the program he announced that he was going to conduct Wagner's 'Die Valkyrie' and that those who didn't like it could leave. Many in the audience were not impressed with a German orchestra coming to Israel to play Wagner, nor with Barenboim. Many, including all but one of the fifty Holocaust survivors in the audience, left.
I think that Barenboim has performed a valuable service. He showed by his own example that the connection between one-sided criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism, including Nazi sympathies - however much denied, however inexplicit - is real.
In spite of all that, I think Barenboim is a model for youth, particularly Palestinian youth. I urge them to follow his example. He is the conductor of the Berlin Staatskapelle and lives in Berlin. I urge every Palestinian youth to join him there.
Wagner was a virulent anti-Semite and the pagan themes in his operas and other music played a leading role in the cultural imagery of the Third Reich. Holocaust survivors have consistently objected to Wagner being played in Israel. Barenboim, at the request of the Israel Festival which had invited him and the Berlin Staatskappelle orchestra, conducted pieces by Schumann and Stravinsky instead. Then at the end of the program he announced that he was going to conduct Wagner's 'Die Valkyrie' and that those who didn't like it could leave. Many in the audience were not impressed with a German orchestra coming to Israel to play Wagner, nor with Barenboim. Many, including all but one of the fifty Holocaust survivors in the audience, left.
I think that Barenboim has performed a valuable service. He showed by his own example that the connection between one-sided criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism, including Nazi sympathies - however much denied, however inexplicit - is real.
In spite of all that, I think Barenboim is a model for youth, particularly Palestinian youth. I urge them to follow his example. He is the conductor of the Berlin Staatskapelle and lives in Berlin. I urge every Palestinian youth to join him there.
"He showed by his own example that the connection between one-sided criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism, including Nazi sympathies - however much denied, however inexplicit - is real."
ReplyDeletePlaying music is now an example of anti-semitism?
Your the most closed minded person I've ever come across. Step outside of your zionist claptrap for a minute and examine yourself and all the horrible prejudices that eat you up inside.
Damien, you approve of the murder of Jews as "understandable". You consider "Zionist" to be a pejorative. Who are you to call anyone else a bigot?
ReplyDeleteI am going to assume you are just ignorant and not mendacious in asking. Playing the national anthem is patriotic, playing military music is martial, playing romantic music is romantic.
ReplyDeletePlaying Nazi theme music is anti-Semitic. All of the Holocaust survivors thought so. I think so too.
As to my "being eaten up inside" by one thing or another, I assume your profound insight into the inner workings of another whom you don't know comes from your superior knowledge of astrology, New Age-ry, Political Correctness, have shouted slogans at demonstrations, and having smoked dope at a rock n roll concert once?
ReplyDeleteOne can get over the imagined omniscience of youth. One has to learn to entertain other opinions and think critically about one's own. I would rate Damien's chances of recovery as bleak.
I am not Damien.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry. If you will forgive the racism, all you anonymous' look alike....
ReplyDelete