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Stephen Fry ... Wagner ... Damn!
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Damn ... Damn ... Damn ... Damn ... Damn ... !!!!!
I missed Stephen Fry on Wagner.
If anyone did see it, how was it ?
I've only seen a very short review in the paper.
And what was the punchline ?
Does the beauty and majesty of Wagner transcend any controversy ?
Or is it difficult to overcome the underlying anti-semitism, and associations with aryanism, Nietzche, Man and Superman, etc, and the Nazi's adoption of his themes and motifs ?
Or do we have to gloss over the issues to enjoy the music ?
For what it's worth, I am an ardent Wagnerite, and will not be swayed by any other opinions.
But ... I am curious.
J
I missed Stephen Fry on Wagner.
If anyone did see it, how was it ?
I've only seen a very short review in the paper.
And what was the punchline ?
Does the beauty and majesty of Wagner transcend any controversy ?
Or is it difficult to overcome the underlying anti-semitism, and associations with aryanism, Nietzche, Man and Superman, etc, and the Nazi's adoption of his themes and motifs ?
Or do we have to gloss over the issues to enjoy the music ?
For what it's worth, I am an ardent Wagnerite, and will not be swayed by any other opinions.
But ... I am curious.
J
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.AYG ... So that would be, say Hildegard Behrens, or Kirsten Flagstad ...
... singing Brunhilde ?
(BTW ... Kirsten Flagstad ... the best operatic soprano of ANY generation)
(and in the 1950 Scala recording of The Ring, probably the best operatic performance ever recorded)
But ... that's just my opinion.
... singing Brunhilde ?
(BTW ... Kirsten Flagstad ... the best operatic soprano of ANY generation)
(and in the 1950 Scala recording of The Ring, probably the best operatic performance ever recorded)
But ... that's just my opinion.
not exactly. That's an interpretation you can put on it, and no doubt anti-semites do so; but you're actually free to interpret music any way you please, or to enoy it without 'interpreting' it at all. Wagner's intentions aren't the only template - in fact many people would argue that any artist's intentions are irrelevant to the finished product; it's what he does, not what he means to do, that matters.
This blog more or less represents the way I feel about it:
http://robertphilen.b...-art-and-culture.html
As for the Nazis, they can admire what they like; it's nothing to do with me. I don't actually like Wagner all that much, but I like Leni Riefenstahl's films. It doesn't make me a Nazi.
This blog more or less represents the way I feel about it:
http://robertphilen.b...-art-and-culture.html
As for the Nazis, they can admire what they like; it's nothing to do with me. I don't actually like Wagner all that much, but I like Leni Riefenstahl's films. It doesn't make me a Nazi.
What, the Ride of the Valkyrie, Tambo?
Okay, okay, but ... because I don't like The Ride, I will also post you another piece of "rousing" Wagner, but a more refined piece ... the Prelude to the 3rd Act from Lohengrin.
Ride of the Valkyrie
(I have at least found you a good version ... by Wilhelm Furtwangler)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU
Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin (much better!)
(after 30 seconds, you will know this piece)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqB801kFe2w
Okay, okay, but ... because I don't like The Ride, I will also post you another piece of "rousing" Wagner, but a more refined piece ... the Prelude to the 3rd Act from Lohengrin.
Ride of the Valkyrie
(I have at least found you a good version ... by Wilhelm Furtwangler)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU
Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin (much better!)
(after 30 seconds, you will know this piece)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqB801kFe2w
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