Patrick Bade
Beethoven in World War II
Summary
A discussion of the role of Beethoven’s music In World War II, specifically the fifth and ninth symphonies. Also discussed is how the composer’s music served as a source of inspiration and comfort during the war, including instances where it intensified the pain of the situation.
Patrick Bade
Patrick Bade is a historian, writer, and broadcaster. He studied at UCL and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was a senior lecturer at Christie’s Education for many years and has worked for the Art Fund, Royal Opera House, National Gallery, and V&A. He has published on 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and historical vocal recordings. His latest book is Music Wars: 1937–1945.
Very. He was very active and the extraordinary thing about Karajan is that he joined the Nazi party twice. He joined it first before it was even expedient or useful then.
He was conniving. Goebbels actually was not that impressed by Karajan as a conductor, but he knew that Furtwängler was absolutely paranoid and very competitive. So Goebbels was very deliberately using Karajan as a means to control Furtwängler.