Private Passions Philippe Sands 15.1.17

[kernelbogey]

Philippe Sands

Philippe Sands is a human rights lawyer who recently won the biggest non-fiction prize in the UK, the £30,000 Baillie Gifford Prize, for his book "East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity".

I am a fan of this programme, and this edition was probably the most moving I have heard.

He makes links in the programme (as I understand he does in the book noted above) between our fading collective memory of the events of 1933 - 1945, the Nuremberg Trials, the current political drift towards xenophobia and nationalism across Europe and other countries, and, crucially, his own family's history in the Holocaust.

The links he makes with his chosen music - and this is always the highlight for me of Private Passions - are to me extraordinarily interesting. (For example the passion for St Matthew Passion by two men on either side of the arguments at Nuremberg.)

It is a remarkable demonstration of emotional intelligence.

His penultimate choice was the first movement of Mahler 9 in the live recording from January 1938 in the Musikverein by the Vienna Philharmonic under Bruno Walter - 'when everyone present knew what was coming'.

[ardcarp]

I turned off after the very interesting intro talk because some crooning (of a type I detest...yes, call me narrow-minded)) was the first choice. But following your comments, kb, I will definitely give it another spin, probably skipping over that bit.

[oddoneout]

I turned off after the very interesting intro talk because some crooning (of a type I detest...yes, call me narrow-minded)) was the first choice. But following your comments, kb, I will definitely give it another spin, probably skipping over that bit.

Leonard Cohen not your thing? But yes do listen to the rest, possibly missing the bunny rabbits at the end....

[kernelbogey]

I turned off after the very interesting intro talk because some crooning (of a type I detest...yes, call me narrow-minded)) was the first choice. But following your comments, kb, I will definitely give it another spin, probably skipping over that bit.

His choices are very eclectic, Ards, and I commend the whole programme. Each piece of music has a reasoned place in his life.

I have only recently rediscovered Leonard Cohen and he is now a favourite: Anthem, the first piece is resonant with meaning. LC is a kind of troubador - singing his poetry sung to music.

I wouldn't miss the bunny rabbits at the end. The point was the possibility of joy in a very dark world (especially the parts of it which PS chooses to inhabit).

[underthecountertenor]

I wouldn't miss the bunny rabbits at the end. The point was the possibility of joy in a very dark world (especially the parts of it which PS chooses to inhabit).

And The Magnetic Fields (led by Stephin Merritt) are a very fine group, though the bunny rabbits, taken out of their context (69 Love Songs), would not perhaps be my first choice to persuade anyone of this. As you suggest, though, they worked well in the context of this programme.

[underthecountertenor]

I have only recently rediscovered Leonard Cohen and he is now a favourite: Anthem, the first piece is resonant with meaning. LC is a kind of troubador - singing his poetry sung to music.

My first exposure to Leonard Cohen (whom I had managed to avoid throughout my youth) was through an edition of Private Passions many years ago, when someone (I forget who) chose Famous Blue Raincoat in a beautiful cover version by Jennifer Warnes. It was a revelation, and I agree with your troubadour description.

[Conchis]

To my shame, I'd never heard of Philippe Sands before. This sounds like a fascinating programme, so I will listen. And anyone who choose Leonard Cohen has got to be OK in my book! :)

[Nick Armstrong]

To my shame, I'd never heard of Philippe Sands before. This sounds like a fascinating programme

He made a thought-provoking television programme too, travelling to Germany with the sons of two senior Nazis - still available I see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b075f0n4

I have downloaded the podcast of this PP and shall make a point of listening.

[underthecountertenor]

He made a thought-provoking television programme too, travelling to Germany with the sons of two senior Nazis - still available I see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b075f0n4

Thanks, cali - this had somehow passed me by. I'll make a point of watching it before it disappears. Sands is a rare shining light in the current gloom (and is hated by the sinister Breitbart for it).

[Nick Armstrong]

Listened to this programme with fascination - remarkable stories and thought-provoking reflections.

Had a frisson of identification too - Sands's first international law teacher was also one of mine, Eli Lauterpacht - son of Sir Hersch who figures in the programme.

Incidentally, repeated at 23:45 tonight on BBC1 is the Holocaust Memorial programme from Antiques Roadshow - some jaw-dropping items and stories, phenomenally moving...