Today is a day which many people remember. While there may be no music that is fitting, I offer a musical interpretation as an elegy. Albinoni perhaps never intended his music to sound like this, but Karajan took it along his own vision into another realm. This is my favorite version of this tune, and none other needs apply.
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Dear Dr John, I have been an engaged reader of the blog for a while and find myself sharing much of the audio philosophy with you.
ReplyDeleteJune 4. I lived in Hong Kong when it was still possible for crowds to gather in Victoria Park on that day, and I am moved by the musical selection you chose to commemorate it. But I am puzzled by the inconsistencies of your June 4 postings with those that followed after February 24. It seems that you lament the temporary loss of the Russian performers' contributions more than the fates of the millions of Ukrainians, as well as many who oppose this invasion in Belarus and Russia itself who are persecuted - in terms much harsher than those imposed on the musicians who just lost their jobs.
There is no ambiguity in this situation. Can you imagine von Karajan, a card carrying member of the Nazi party, touring the UK in 1940? Or even the more neutral Fuertwengler? Or the conductor of the Japanese main symphony maintaining a second appointment with an orchestra in Nanjin around the same time? At times like this, musicians too must make a choice. This invasion did not happen as a surprise. It is a culmination of a long crescendo of dangerous nationalism unleashed by Putin since the beginning of his rule and moved a few octaves higher in 2014. At the minimum since then it was clear where it was going. Putin himself never made it a secret. Yet these great Russian performers expressed their support for that government at the time, or at the minimum did not mind sharing comfortable lifestyles among Moscow or St Petersburg and the luxurious European appointments they enjoyed. Klemperer and Toscanini immigrated. Von Karajan made another - but at least clear - choice. When he visited the US in the 1950s he was met with public protests. Ormandy refused to shake his hand. I don't see why it has to be any different now.
After February 24 I had not touched my system for a month. There was no room for music in my soul. Then, after watching a moving concert in Berlin by Berenboim in support of Ukraine, I slowly restarted it, mostly with Beethoven and indeed Albinoni. But when I browse my LPs and come across those of the great Russian composers, Prokofiev included, I can barely contain a physical repulse.
We cannot hold the dead for the actions of the Russian evil empire. But the living once need to make it clear whose side they are on. The art is not abstract.
It was out of respect for you that I have delayed publishing your comment - somehow you sound sincere and familiar (do I know u?) it deserves a detailed reply. But I'm afraid the reply shall not please you. Mind you, I am sure there are many who feel like you, and I don't belittle your sentiment. But there's a divide, even within the US and EU.
DeleteMost readers DON'T read my Classical Music articles, but it was on 3/2 that I made my first comment on the war:
https://cheaptubeaudio.blogspot.com/2022/03/streaming-classical-music.html
I said: "...Mozart and Beethoven recordings made by Peter Maag with the unsung Padova e del Veneto Orchestra (ARTS). Incidentally on this label there is one of the best Beethoven piano concerto cycle, with Galina Vracheva and the Kiev Chamber Orchestra under Roman Kofman. It hurts to imagine that some of the male instrumentalists may be toting guns now rather than their instruments (Ed: the day after I published this article, I read in the SCMP about Ukranian musicians in Korea returning to take up arms)! What courage, what patriotism and, most of all, what a tragedy! We better get back to Berlioz..."
And then on 3/12 I published my first article on Ukranian musicians:
https://cheaptubeaudio.blogspot.com/2022/03/ukrainian-and-russian-stories.html
I paid tribute to all the great Ukranian musicians, mostly of the past. Mostly Jewish, from a different era - Soviet. very different from the Ukraine now.
In this article, I wrote: "... I’ll be succinct - let’s just say while I condemn Russia’s act and any war, I am also not at all in sympathy with the US and EU and NATO for their long-time actions and private motifs. If America really promotes human rights and not selectively turns a blind eye due to oil money and geopolitics, let an American president sanction and sever relationship with Saudi Arabia’s disgusting Crown Prince (who is not increasing oil production) and do justice to Khashoggi (it’s been 3 years). As for war criminal trials, don’t forget American presidents and generals who manufactured excuses to invade another country. As a member of the Asian-American community, whose lives are being imperiled in the US right now, I think the US has to own up to its own dark present and past history rather than spreading information that it’s the world’s savior. Enough of this ghastly stuff..."
Yes, I stand by that. For this article, I got plastered by a long time reader, and with due respect I published his comment with a short response. Enough for democracy?
And then on 3/19 I published a second article on Ukranian musicians of current import:
https://cheaptubeaudio.blogspot.com/2022/03/ukranian-classical-composers-and.html
Now, WHERE on the internet do you read about important classical Ukrainian musicians and history in such depth? I can tell you, nowhere!
Do you know how much time it takes me to research and write such an article? Tens of hours. And why do you think I spent so much of my time writing such articles? Tribute to Ukranian musicians, yes! BUT, also, regrets for the Russian musicians who suffer (I know u cannot agree). But, some of you just focus on your own political viewpoints?
Here are some articles by prominent Americans that say things more eloquently than I could:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2014/05/19/why-nato-has-not-permitted-russia-to-join/
https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/06/03/the-ukraine-war-chomsky-responds/
And then what really hurts. 1999 US/NATO War Crime on Serbia:
https://www.rt.com/news/552650-nato-bombing-serbia-remains-unrecognized/
Mind you, NATO bombed the Chinese Embassy and killed several people. The Chinese people, even of other Nationalities, shall never forget that.
This Reply is addressed to all interested parties. This blog shall reject all further Ukranian comments and I myself shall not even mention the name Ukraine. Do u think that makes for a better world?