Clemens Krauss

[Barbirollians]

I have been working through the 5cd box of his Richard Strauss recordings with the VPO .

The Ein Heldenleben and Don Quixote I had on a cassette from the 1980s and in their clear mono way opened my ears to R Strauss . Nothing else was available and I moved on to the great Kempe recordings but judging by this box Krauss was simply unsurpassed in this repertoire . The recordings are very clear for their age and the playing is fabulous. Boskovsky's playing in the solos in Ein Heldenleben is breathtakingly beautiful -nobody else comes close IMO .

The Don Juan And Till have great dash and charm and I am almost won over to the Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite . I am even looking forward to hearing the Domestica.

A conductor who can turn out such a wonderful Die Fledermaus as I am listening to now with lovely singing with superb diction from the principals and also support Ferrier so movingly in the Alto rhapsody is a great in my book . I am even wondering whether his recording could persuade me to like the Ring cycle.

[Hornspieler]

A fine conductor. I am not surprised by your admiration.

But remember, Krauss was conducting what was, and in my opinion still is, the finest orchestra in the World.

HS

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Krauss was conducting what was, and in my opinion still is, the finest orchestra in the World.

Oh! Was there a typo in Barbi's post, then? (Well, understandable - "V" and "B" are right next to each other on the keyboard)

[cloughie]

Oh! Was there a typo in Barbi's post, then? (Well, understandable - "V" and "B" are right next to each other on the keyboard)

Or should it have been a C?
All these are very subjective... And was the V better than the B at the turn of and early 50s?
As I've mentioned on these boards Krauss' R Strauss performances were second to none but had he lived and recorded 10- 15 years later he would have benefited from the golden Decca recording era. Reiner probably took his R Strauss crown from him on recording quality!

[Beef Oven!]

I have been working through the 5cd box of his Richard Strauss recordings with the VPO .

The Ein Heldenleben and Don Quixote I had on a cassette from the 1980s and in their clear mono way opened my ears to R Strauss . Nothing else was available and I moved on to the great Kempe recordings but judging by this box Krauss was simply unsurpassed in this repertoire . The recordings are very clear for their age and the playing is fabulous. Boskovsky's playing in the solos in Ein Heldenleben is breathtakingly beautiful -nobody else comes close IMO .

The Don Juan And Till have great dash and charm and I am almost won over to the Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme Suite . I am even looking forward to hearing the Domestica.

A conductor who can turn out such a wonderful Die Fledermaus as I am listening to now with lovely singing with superb diction from the principals and also support Ferrier so movingly in the Alto rhapsody is a great in my book . I am even wondering whether his recording could persuade me to like the Ring cycle.

Based on your numerous comments about Sir Reginald Goodall's flirtation with right-wing politics, you'll have to rule this very talented man out. He jumped into Kleiber's shoes the minute he resigned as protest against Nazism and antesemetism.

He appears to have had a well documented relationship with at least one Nazi official and seemed, so the argument goes, to be very amenable to Nazi dictats on music and music administration in The Third Reich. It is even rumoured that he applied for Nazi membership in 1933. His critics (political, not musical) claim his career was helped during the 1930s and 40s on account of his ability to go along with a regime that other musicians could, or would not.

I tend to ignore such considerations when it comes to music, but I respect people who feel such matters are inextricable.

Like many people, I was vaguely aware of all this but it's common to things like Wikipedia etc, if you want to look.

His Ring cycle is very good and I would recommend it to you, but for other reasons, do feel free to unenjoy him.

[richardfinegold]

Based on your numerous comments about Sir Reginald Goodall's flirtation with right-wing politics, you'll have to rule this very talented man out. He jumped into Kleiber's shoes the minute he resigned as protest against Nazism and antesemetism.

He appears to have had a well documented relationship with at least one Nazi official and seemed, so the argument goes, to be very amenable to Nazi dictats on music and music administration in The Third Reich. It is even rumoured that he applied for Nazi membership in 1933. His critics (political, not musical) claim his career was helped during the 1930s and 40s on account of his ability to go along with a regime that other musicians could, or would not.

I tend to ignore such considerations when it comes to music, but I respect people who feel such matters are inextricable.

Like many people, I was vaguely aware of all this but it's common to things like Wikipedia etc, if you want to look.

His Ring cycle is very good and I would recommend it to you, but for other reasons, do feel free to unenjoy him.

He also started the New Years Concerts a few months after Hitlers Panzers raced through Poland in a State Sponsored effort to display German "culture" to the world to have a PR image to puff against German Atrocities

[vinteuil]

... I am even wondering whether his recording could persuade me to like the Ring cycle.

... the 1953 Krauss Ring is probably the one of the many on the shelves here which I wd choose had I to choose only one -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003WFKJRE

[Barbirollians]

Unlike the goose-stepping holocaust denier Goodall - there was a very big difference with Clemens Krauss - BO seems to be unaware of the evidence of the significant assistance he and his wife the Romanian soprano Viorica Ursuleac gave to Ida and Louise Cook too eccentric English opera lovers who used their frequent trips to see opera singers in Germany between 1937-1939 to smuggle Jews and their valuables out of the country . Krauss and his wife had asked the sisters to escort their friends the Mayer-Lismanns ( a Jewish couple and she was the official lecturer of the Salzburg Festival ) out of Germany .

Then in 1937 when the authorities began to be suspicious of their ever so frequent trips to Germany Krauss who was now at Munich offered to provide them with full details of the Munuch programmes and tickets so that they could cover their visits by the fact of his patronage and influence . On his death in 1954 Ida Cook wrote :

[The decision to transfer from Vienna to Berlin] was wrong, of course—tactically, and perhaps humanly too. But, although his enemies would have us forget the fact, Berlin at the time was still an open capital city, like any other European city, for the purposes of political, social or artistic matters. I think I can say now after twenty years of close friendship with him…that Krauss bitterly regretted that decision very soon after it was taken. But to retrace the step was impossible and, in making what he could of a situation which revolted him, he threw himself, with single-mindedness characteristic of him, into serving the art he loved, even in the midst of horror… it was only with his active and unfailing help that we managed to bring twenty-nine people out of Hitler’s Germany.

He clearly had an eye for the main chance in 1935 but to compare him with Goodall is a gross calumny and his assistance to the Cooks I imagine played a considerable part in him being cleared to return to work in 1947 .

[Beef Oven!]

Unlike the goose-stepping holocaust denier Goodall - there was a very big difference with Clemens Krauss - BO seems to be unaware of the evidence of the significant assistance he and his wife the Romanian soprano Viorica Ursuleac gave to Ida and Louise Cook too eccentric English opera lovers who used their frequent trips to see opera singers in Germany between 1937-1939 to smuggle Jews and their valuables out of the country . Krauss and his wife had asked the sisters to escort their friends the Mayer-Lismanns ( a Jewish couple and she was the official lecturer of the Salzburg Festival ) out of Germany .

Then in 1937 when the authorities began to be suspicious of their ever so frequent trips to Germany Krauss who was now at Munich offered to provide them with full details of the Munuch programmes and tickets so that they could cover their visits by the fact of his patronage and influence . On his death in 1954 Ida Cook wrote :

[The decision to transfer from Vienna to Berlin] was wrong, of course—tactically, and perhaps humanly too. But, although his enemies would have us forget the fact, Berlin at the time was still an open capital city, like any other European city, for the purposes of political, social or artistic matters. I think I can say now after twenty years of close friendship with him…that Krauss bitterly regretted that decision very soon after it was taken. But to retrace the step was impossible and, in making what he could of a situation which revolted him, he threw himself, with single-mindedness characteristic of him, into serving the art he loved, even in the midst of horror… it was only with his active and unfailing help that we managed to bring twenty-nine people out of Hitler’s Germany.

He clearly had an eye for the main chance in 1935 but to compare him with Goodall is a gross calumny and his assistance to the Cooks I imagine played a considerable part in him being cleared to return to work in 1947 .

Describing Goodall as 'goose-stepping' shows that you have nothing more than name-calling to your argument. And as for dragging the Holocaust in this with a defamination on Goodall is even worse (he was of course no denier).

I'm fully aware that Krauss used his help to some Jewish musicians as part of his de-nazification which was confirmed in 1947. If that's enough for you, then that's fine. It's up to you to draw your own ethical lines.

It's pretty obvious when you weigh Krauss' actions in the Third Reich and Goodall's words and support for the BUF, it is clear which is the most significant and sinister.

I find your position on this has no merit and is highly hypocritical.

[Barbirollians]

You are frankly contemptible . Goodall joined the British Union of Fascists AFTER Germany invaded Polsnd and is recorded as describing the Holocaust as BBC Jewish plot . He also complained in the 1930s about the number of Jewish musicians allowed into Britain .

Krauss for all his self centered behaviour assisted two extraordinarily brave women whose bona fides you evidently doubt to rescue some Jewish refugees from Germany had his conduct been discovered his career would no doubt have been ruined .

I think it is perhaps time to cease to have much to do with this forum as I am far from sure I want to be part of a place where you are welcome - despite being a troll of the first order .

[Ferretfancy]

You are frankly contemptible . Goodall joined the British Union of Fascists AFTER Germany invaded Polsnd and is recorded as describing the Holocaust as BBC Jewish plot . He also complained in the 1930s about the number of Jewish musicians allowed into Britain .

Krauss for all his self centered behaviour assisted two extraordinarily brave women whose bona fides you evidently doubt to rescue some Jewish refugees from Germany had his conduct been discovered his career would no doubt have been ruined .

I think it is perhaps time to cease to have much to do with this forum as I am far from sure I want to be part of a place where you are welcome - despite being a troll of the first order .

I do hope that you don't leave the forum. You have contributed many insights into the music we love, and always in a spirit of kindness> I've been tempted to give up contributing on more than one occasion when ugliness and spite have come to the surface, but why let spite win ?

Sadly there are those online, and not just on this forum, who hide behind anonymity and make statements which they would consider more carefully before speaking face to face.

[visualnickmos]

You are frankly contemptible . Goodall joined the British Union of Fascists AFTER Germany invaded Polsnd and is recorded as describing the Holocaust as BBC Jewish plot . He also complained in the 1930s about the number of Jewish musicians allowed into Britain .

Krauss for all his self centered behaviour assisted two extraordinarily brave women whose bona fides you evidently doubt to rescue some Jewish refugees from Germany had his conduct been discovered his career would no doubt have been ruined .

I think it is perhaps time to cease to have much to do with this forum as I am far from sure I want to be part of a place where you are welcome - despite being a troll of the first order.

I hope you will decide to stay - you contribute many lively and informative postings, and it' always with pleasure that I read your comments and informative input to a wide range of subjects on here. Often with wit and humour, too...... please stay!

[Beef Oven!]

You are frankly contemptible . Goodall joined the British Union of Fascists AFTER Germany invaded Polsnd and is recorded as describing the Holocaust as BBC Jewish plot . He also complained in the 1930s about the number of Jewish musicians allowed into Britain .

Krauss for all his self centered behaviour assisted two extraordinarily brave women whose bona fides you evidently doubt to rescue some Jewish refugees from Germany had his conduct been discovered his career would no doubt have been ruined .

I think it is perhaps time to cease to have much to do with this forum as I am far from sure I want to be part of a place where you are welcome - despite being a troll of the first order .

Passing off collusion with The Third Reich as no more than 'self-centred behaviour' is in my view, best left to Nazi apologists.

You choose to make gratuitous comments about 'Nazi salutes' and 'Hitler loving' when Sir Reginald Goodall is mentioned on this forum - as irritating and trolling it is, that's up to you. But you must expect to be challenged when you extoll the musical virtues of someone who's behaviour regarding this shameful period in European history is more significant and worse than Goodall's. Is it completely lost on you how the of behaviour of 'self-centred' people contributed to this despicable regime's development?

You can't cherry-pick on this. If you want to take issue with Goodall and post sarcastic snipes when his music-making is mentioned on this forum, as you have done over the last few years, you will be challenged if you are inconsistent.

[Don Petter]

Krauss' Gipsy Baron was one of my first LP sets, and an early love.

(Doubt anyone will hear me, amid the mighty clash of axes. )

[Hornspieler]

I hope you will decide to stay - you contribute many lively and informative postings, and it' always with pleasure that I read your comments and informative input to a wide range of subjects on here. Often with wit and humour, too...... please stay!

Years ago, the Musicians Union joined battle with the BBC and ITV :

Well, "Keep Music Live" didn't work for them and a new slogan would be more than appropriate at this time - and certainly on this forum.

"Keep Politics Out of Music!

I remember a televised concert in the early 1950s:

David Oistrach (Russian) playing Brahms violin concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (British) conducted by Rudolf Schwarz (Austrian Jew)

Fantastic performance and perfect interpretive agreement.

I take the liberty of quoting the last lines of my own "Bravo Maestro"

.... One of the nice things about an orchestra is that the Duke's daughter might well find herself turning over the pages for the dustman's son.

Music is a profession in which ability is the only qualification for membership.

HS