Herbert von Karajan (1908-1989)

[Grisu]

[Two topics dealing with the same individual have been merged. Ivan Ž.]

It has been reported that the conductor Herbert von Karajan joined the NSDAP twice - if I remember correctly, the first time in Austria right after the Machtergreifung, the second time in Germany. This seems not to be correct, as the first party membership (i.e., the Austrian membership) was apparently never made officially valid.

Unfortunately, I lack background knowledge of the party membership validation process - so could anyone please sketch why Karajan's Austrian NSDAP membership was not valid (if this claim is correct).

[wydrzyk]

Herbert von Karajan was one of the biggest conductors of the 20th century and the adoring eccentric to pilot loves jet aircraft and to rush by cars with the great speed. But also with member NSDAP behind which through the entire life the Nazi past trailed. Is it possible to call him the musician of the third Crowd?

[J. Duncan]

Karajan was an awesome interpreter of Wagner. His colleague, Hans Knappersbusch was another and rival, although many (including Hitler) didn't like his tempi. I've read that Hitler and Eva Braun argued over who was better - Hitler preferring the younger and more dynamic Karajan. Karajan was quite young at the time, but he was definitely a feted fellow traveler whose career flourished under the Nazis. Like many artists however, he was not politically reliable, and I think Goebbels complained about him in his diary. See Michael Kater's book "Music in the Third Reich" and Frederic Spott's "Bayreuth: A History of the Wagner Festival". Carl Orf, famous for "Carmina Burana" (used in many Barbarian and King Arthur movies) was another "third crowd" musician. The subject is very interesting. Spott's book is an exciting page turner.

[dobromeister]

Herbert von Karajan was one of the biggest conductors of the 20th century and the adoring eccentric to pilot loves jet aircraft and to rush by cars with the great speed. But also with member NSDAP behind which through the entire life the Nazi past trailed. Is it possible to call him the musician of the third Crowd?

The same could be said of Carl Orff, composer of Carmina Burana. Does that make his brilliant music any the less appealing? [except to reactionary dimwits]. And let's not even touch on Wagner, the crown prince of symphonious thunder and orgasmic ecstasy.

[J. Duncan]

As a conductor, Karajan brought such a rich depth to Wagner's music. His Ring and Parsifal recordings are two of my favorites.

[dobromeister]

As a conductor, Karajan brought such a rich depth to Wagner's music. His Ring and Parsifal recordings are two of my favorites.

von Karajan + Wagner go together like a sweet bottle of Rhine wine.

Or hell, even a giant stein of Bavarian beer!

[Ivan Ž.]

From https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/ via https://commons.wikimedia.org/

Archivtitel: Porträt Herbert von Karajan am Schreibtisch sitzend und lesend. Datierung: 1938. Fotograf: Posse, Edith.

[Ivan Ž.]

In occupied Paris, with French soprano Germaine Lubin.

From https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/ via https://commons.wikimedia.org/

Originaltitel: Herbert von Karajan und Mme. Germaine Lubin vor dem Bühneneingang der Pariser Oper, in der er die "Entführung aus dem Serail" dirigieren wird. Datierung: 17. Mai 1941. Fotograf: Matin.

[Ivan Ž.]

A press photo used for the occasion of Göring appointing von Karajan to the Berlin State Opera, Nov. 1938 (see the original press caption below).

From http://pallas.cegesoma.be/

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Generalmusikdirektor Herbert von Karajan an die Staatsoper berufen. Ministerpräsident Generalfeldmarschall Göring hat Herbert von Karajan an die Berliner Staatsoper berufen. Herbert von Karajan behält seine künstlerische Tätigkeit als Generalmusikdirektor der Stadt Aachen bis zum Ablauf seines dortigen Vertrages bei. Der junge Stabmeister, der durch diese Berufung eine weithin sichtbare Anerkennung seiner aussergewöhnlichen Fähigkeiten erfährt, darf auch für die Berliner Staatsoper als bedeutsamer Zuwachs angesprochen werden.

A short press report from Der Führer, 05.11.1938, p. 4

Der Führer 1938-11-05 S-4.jpg (64.68 KiB) Viewed 984 times