Here's something you might be interested in.
When Wilhelm Furtwangler died in 1954, Das Wunder Karajan was waiting to succeed him as conductor for life of The Berlin Philharmonic.
Herbert von Karajan was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1908.
By the age of 26, he had a post as Kapellmeister in Ulm, had conducted Faust at the Salzburg Festival, conducted the Vienna Philharmonic and joined the Nazi Party.
It was in 1933 that von Karajan joined the Nazis.
Over the next 12 years, some speculate that the Nazis pushed von Karajan’s career in order to put pressure on Furtwangler--who never became a member.
Von Karajan conducted Wagner’s masterpiece, Tristan und Isolde, in 1938 in Berlin. After this performance, a Berlin music critic called the 30 year-old "Das Wunder Karajan" and put him next to Furtwangler as the best opera conductor in Germany.
In 1942, von Karajan married his second wife. Her name was Anna Marie Sauest and her grandfather had been Jewish.
When Hitler reveled that he wanted to take care of anyone who was one quarter Jewish, von Karajan and his wife left the country for Italy.
Why did a member of the Nazi party marry a woman who was part Jewish in 1942? One can only speculate.
Much has been made of von Karajan’s joining the Nazis twice. As mentioned, he joined in 1933 but Austria declared membership in the Nazi Party as illegal.
In 1939, von Karajan was reinstated.
It’s interesting that Austria took the stance that joining the Nazis was illegal. In the early 1900’s Austria had been the birthplace of anti-Semitism as a formal, political movement.
Von Karajan was cleared to conduct in 1946 and made the most of his opportunities.
When Furtwangler died, von Karajan was the obvious choice.
The Nazi designation was to follow von Karajan throughout his career. Was he a true Nazi? I think he was young and ambitious and saw where the flow of power and influence was heading.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0wzGPv5OZ8
When Wilhelm Furtwangler died in 1954, Das Wunder Karajan was waiting to succeed him as conductor for life of The Berlin Philharmonic.
Herbert von Karajan was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1908.
By the age of 26, he had a post as Kapellmeister in Ulm, had conducted Faust at the Salzburg Festival, conducted the Vienna Philharmonic and joined the Nazi Party.
It was in 1933 that von Karajan joined the Nazis.
Over the next 12 years, some speculate that the Nazis pushed von Karajan’s career in order to put pressure on Furtwangler--who never became a member.
Von Karajan conducted Wagner’s masterpiece, Tristan und Isolde, in 1938 in Berlin. After this performance, a Berlin music critic called the 30 year-old "Das Wunder Karajan" and put him next to Furtwangler as the best opera conductor in Germany.
In 1942, von Karajan married his second wife. Her name was Anna Marie Sauest and her grandfather had been Jewish.
When Hitler reveled that he wanted to take care of anyone who was one quarter Jewish, von Karajan and his wife left the country for Italy.
Why did a member of the Nazi party marry a woman who was part Jewish in 1942? One can only speculate.
Much has been made of von Karajan’s joining the Nazis twice. As mentioned, he joined in 1933 but Austria declared membership in the Nazi Party as illegal.
In 1939, von Karajan was reinstated.
It’s interesting that Austria took the stance that joining the Nazis was illegal. In the early 1900’s Austria had been the birthplace of anti-Semitism as a formal, political movement.
Von Karajan was cleared to conduct in 1946 and made the most of his opportunities.
When Furtwangler died, von Karajan was the obvious choice.
The Nazi designation was to follow von Karajan throughout his career. Was he a true Nazi? I think he was young and ambitious and saw where the flow of power and influence was heading.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0wzGPv5OZ8