RE: Barenboim and Wagner and programs

[Katie Marcus <kmarcus...>]

Slightly off this thread, but I need some opinions.

Before Barenboim made the news, the Michigan Chamber Society made 
arrangements to bring him to our community during the month of Dec.  Around 
his performance they want to schedule, with in the Jewish and Arab 
communities here, programs on the subject of 'peace in the middle east.' 
 They (the Chamber society) explained to us that he is very into the cause 
of peace.  The Chamber society does not think it a good idea to arrange 
dialogue programs (or even joint programs) between the Jewish and Arab 
communities, since tensions are too high right now.  They just want both of 
us to have lectures or programs and have it all billed together in their 
marketing, designed around his concert...

Michiganders on this list- has the Chamber Society approached you?  Are you 
planning anything?

Do people think that this is a program(s) they would be involved in, 
especially given the current situation?

Please let me know.  Thanks.

-Katie Marcus
Program Coordinator, Jewish Life & Learning
Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit
6600 West Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(248) 661-7649
FAX: (248) 661-7711

-----Original Message-----
From:   yoel [SMTP:yoel (at) netvision(dot)net(dot)il]
Sent:   Thursday, July 12, 2001 10:06 AM
To:     World music from a Jewish slant
Subject:        RE: Barenboim and Wagner

Jeffrey Schanzer wrote:

My father's contention was that Wagner's
anti-semitic reputation was really due to his wife, Cosima's work in
revising
his reputation after his death.  My father said that Wagner's favorite
conductor was a Jew.
Actually, there is circumstantial evidence that Wagner's own father was
Jewish.  Before Wagner was born, Wagner's parents became estranged, and his
mother took in a Jewish boarder, to whom she became very close.
Contemporary rumor was that he, and not Wagner's mother's husband, was
Wagner's biological father.

Joel Epstein

Moshav Magshimim, Israel

tel: 972-3-9333316

     972-52-333316

fax: 972-9338751

yoel (at) netvision(dot)net(dot)il

  -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
[mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org]On Behalf Of JeffSchan (at) 
aol(dot)com
  Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 12:31 PM
  To: World music from a Jewish slant
  Subject: Re: Barenboim and Wagner


  For the most part, I agree with Yoel's points.  Wagner is not such a 
black
  and white issue for me.  I can't stand his music, personally, but my
father
  (a Buchenwald survivor) was a great fan of his.  He saw the Ring at
Bayreuth
  and the whole nine yards.  My father's contention was that Wagner's
  anti-semitic reputation was really due to his wife, Cosima's work in
revising
  his reputation after his death.  My father said that Wagner's favorite
  conductor was a Jew.  I have been told that this argument doesn't really
hold
  up to modern information, but that's what he believed.

  So while I agree that Baremboim was wrong in breaking his agreement not 
to
  perform Wagner -- those who choose not to hear it shouldn't have to -- 
the
  idea of cultural censorship more offensive to me that Wagner is.

  Jeffrey Schanzer
 << File: ATT00000.html >> 

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