Angels with hairy faces

[RichardB]

I was looking at a picture of Wagner the other day and suddenly thought to myself I have never seen anyone, either in real life or otherwise, with the kind of facial hair configuration RW went for. Was it popular in the 19th century? Is its disappearance comparable to that of the "Hitler" moustache, which certainly in the early 20th century was quite common? It seems to me that few composers and fewer conductors wear facial hair these days (with a few prominent exceptions like Karl Jenkins who looks as if he's wearing some kind of joke disguise)... is this true? (Obviously this only applies to those of the male gender.)

[Joseph K]

Two who sprung to mind...





I don't know if it's less popular these days though...

[edashtav]

I was looking at a picture of Wagner the other day and suddenly thought to myself I have never seen anyone, either in real life or otherwise, with the kind of facial hair configuration RW went for. Was it popular in the 19th century? Is its disappearance comparable to that of the "Hitler" moustache, which certainly in the early 20th century was quite common? It seems to me that few composers and fewer conductors wear facial hair these days (with a few prominent exceptions like Karl Jenkins who looks as if he's wearing some kind of joke disguise)... is this true? (Obviously this only applies to those of the male gender.)

C’mon Richard, it’s unlike you to be wrong!
How about ‘Gnarly’ Gruber?

[LHC]

I was looking at a picture of Wagner the other day and suddenly thought to myself I have never seen anyone, either in real life or otherwise, with the kind of facial hair configuration RW went for. Was it popular in the 19th century? Is its disappearance comparable to that of the "Hitler" moustache, which certainly in the early 20th century was quite common? It seems to me that few composers and fewer conductors wear facial hair these days (with a few prominent exceptions like Karl Jenkins who looks as if he's wearing some kind of joke disguise)... is this true? (Obviously this only applies to those of the male gender.)

Wagner's facial hair always looked like a variation on the 'mutton chop' style that was quite popular in his time. There are still quite a few people who fashion their facial hair into similar configurations.

Composers and conductors with facial hair?

[kernelbogey]

It's almost impossible to think of J Brahms as a young man because of that photo, mit Bart. But there is at least one early pic.

[edashtav]

I hadn’t realise that Bart was beard in German.

Was the Bartered Bride about a hairy lady?

[gradus]

Oh dear Richard, Beardism raises its clean-shaven chin. Generous if ironic to link Wagner with the Angels though.

[ahinton]

a few prominent exceptions like Karl Jenkins who looks as if he's wearing some kind of joke disguise

Are you sure that you mean only "wearing"?...

[edashtav]

Didn’t several wags think that he was Meghan Markle in disguise when he appeared at the Abbey for the Coronation?

[RichardB]

Oh dear Richard, Beardism raises its clean-shaven chin. Generous if ironic to link Wagner with the Angels though.

I have absolutely nothing against beards, let it be said. It's something I've experimented with myself, but my experience is that after about two weeks it feels so uncomfortable I have to get rid of it urgently. If that didn't happen I might look like Karl Marx by now.

I suppose my assertion about them being less popular among composers and conductors than among the population at large must be wrong. Although having known James Dillon as long as I have, I don't think of him with the (really rather impressive) growth he now has. I still don't see any Wagners though - as LHC says, the mutton chop extended so that the ends meet under the chin.

There are indeed photos of the young Brahms in clean-shaven mode, but there are also photos of the young Mahler with a full set.

[RichardB]

Didn’t several wags think that he was Meghan Markle in disguise when he appeared at the Abbey for the Coronation?

MAYBE HE WAS

[teamsaint]

I was expecting to see Jimmy Pursey with a full set :(

[hmvman]

The closest to the Wagner look I can think of is Jacques Loussier in his younger years. I don't know how to post a picture here so the best I can do is post a link:

https://www.soundmetaphors.com/release/13918174/Jacques-Loussier-Play-Bach

[RichardB]

The closest to the Wagner look I can think of is Jacques Loussier in his younger years.

Close but no cigar! Well spotted though.

[Serial_Apologist]

Karl Jenkins who looks as if he's wearing some kind of joke disguise

That would be the music, not the man's beard.