Legge and Schwarzkopf
AZWAL...@aol.com
of Mme. Schwarzkopf. Apparently he like to humilitate her at recording
sessions. I understand Schwarzkopf was actually a member of the Nazi party
during her Aachen years. But what about Legge? Anybody know what his politics
were? Also, what is her health status? I'll admit to some Schadenfreude
thinking about Schwarzkopf in a SS uniform.
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Jerel M. Zoltick
In some repects...the marriage made Schwarzkopf
more "acceptable"
JMZ
AZWAL...@aol.com wrote in message <74qf8o$u6v$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
Stregata
>Legge was Jewish...
>In some repects...the marriage made Schwarzkopf
>more "acceptable"
That reminds me of some comments made by the late Sir Rudolf Bing regarding the
ambivalence or hypocrisy on Schwarzkopf's part in communing with the Third
Reich and ending up marrying a Jew after the war.
Stregata
Matthew B. Tepper
Or maybe remorse, although obviously not in THIS instance!
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/index.htm
My main music page --- http://www.deltanet.com/~ducky/berlioz.htm
And my science fiction club's home page --- http://www.lasfs.org/
To write to me, do for my address what Androcles did for the lion
Emma Alban
>> Jerel M. Zoltick wrote:
>> >Legge was Jewish... In some repects...the marriage made Schwarzkopf
>> more "acceptable">>
I realize accuracy is not a priority in most news groups -- after all a bunch
of dodo birds held forth "authoritatively" on early opera on opera-l clearly
knowing nothing about it; and here Mr. Richter calls every gnat who flies into
a fan a "spinto". I knew Legge and Schwarzkopf. Legge vigorously denied he
was all or part Jewish or that there were any Jews in his family as far back as
could be traced. On the other hand, I have met English people (delightful all)
who insist that "Legge" is a Jewish name in England, like "Harris" or "Milnes".
I have no idea if that is true. The late Dale Harris denied being Jewish; but
a well known opera commentator with the name Milnes is Jewish and open about
it.
Legge was certainly a fascist sympathizer; he used his position with ENSA
(British USO) to gain access to many artists who were in serious jeopardy from
being accused of having been 'serious' Nazis -- Schwarzkopf, Hotter and Von
Karajan for example (they're on one of his first recordings, the Brahms
requiem, where Lizzie can be heard singing along with and drowning everybody
else out in the female chorus), also Gieseking. Legge was a great record
producer but completely amoral; he used his entree with the allies to provide
accommodating women (and men) as sexual partners to allied staff, thus earning
all kinds of favors. Of all the stories about how he and S. met, the one I
believe (with absolutely no proof) is they met that way -- with him hearing
about an accommodating and pretty young woman who was available. Before
everyone judges and without taking sides, just about everybody in Vienna was
starving; there was no medicine and no hot water, and no heat and no clothes
and no dentistry; TB was almost at epidemic levels and people were dying in
their rooms of exposure. No one had any rights. Jurinac can go on a long time
about how terrified she and her mother were that they could be killed or
arrested by Russians, who routinely raped women. Jurinac would hide her mother
at the opera house, sing for a little bread, then sleep in the opera house --
going "home" by a circuitous route by day light and waiting carefully to see if
anyone was in their apartment. My point is as Americans none of us know that
kind of daily terror, hunger, insecurity. Frankly few of us know about body
lice -- everyone had them because no one could bathe. People did what they had
to, to get through. Legge and S were involved for quite some time before they
got married. They were both opportunists, and he was flagrantly unfaithful and
publicly abusive. But as one of their closest friends (and they surprisingly
had them) explained to me, "you know what they say about prostitutes, there's
always the one man they're faithful to."
As for S being made "acceptable" that happened in England, Italy and then in
Germany well before she was Mrs. Legge. Legge's ability to record her and
promote her records eventually won her a sizable part of the American market --
for quite some time she sang with any orchestra that would hire her, and sang
in small cities as well as metropolises. She found a champion in George Szell
(who was Jewish), Klemperer employed her (he was a Jew who converted to
Catholicism. Up to a point he owed Legge, but he was one ornery cuss). Bing
sabotaged her by hiring her late in the day and making her go on as Elvira for
a b'cast Don G when she was genuinely very ill. She canceled. He said, "would
you like me to tell all America that we cannot give an opera this afternoon
because Frau S. refuses to sing?" She was booed and left the country that day.
An interesting book needs to be written about Legge and S -- as I said on
opera-l before being banished -- I am more interested in complexity than
complicity. S once said to me when we discussed my career "of course, you must
do whatever you can to have your career. Do it. Don't look back." Legge was
a monster, yet he bankrolled the dying Lupatti, against EMI's wishes, making
some of the greatest piano records ever, at the risk of his job. Furtwaengler
turned on Legge when the later championed Von K, but Legge protected F. at EMI,
and when F died was actively involved in trying to bring about a complete Ring
Cycle (only Walkuere was recorded). No one believed the F. Tristan would sell
-- Legge put his job on the line. Early on as a junior member of EMI with no
safety or power he recorded Schnabel in the complete Beethoven sonatas, and did
the complete Wolf songs. Later, he recorded De Los Angeles, Nan Merriman, the
young FiDi, Klemperer, Hotter, Schwarzkopf because he believed in them, not
because they were "safe" or "commercial" -- and indeed a lot of the EMI rep in
the early 50's was decidedly not commercial. He fought to get Callas and
planned a Macbeth with her, Gobbi and Toscanini. Lucia and Puritani were not
exactly bread and butter operas when he recorded them and he pushed for early
recordings of then "rare" Mozart like Idomineo with Jurinac. S referred to
herself as "her master's voice" a loaded and I suspect fully conscious choice
of words. How valuable she was as an artist is something I won't get into
here. But she did have a strong and positive impact on concert giving for about
twenty years.
And when people bring up mere musicians who went along with the Nazis (I don't
mean villains who executed genocidal orders), I think of John Wayne, Martha
Raye and Bob Hope who profitted from promoting an illegal war in which tens if
not hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in unapproved, secret
bombing raids and by napalm. And I remember the "hard hats" in New York who
beat up anti war demonstrators and wanted gooks killed (by other, younger
people of course). Human evil is everywhere and always -- while justly
condemning the horror of Nazism -- we should also look for a little into the
nearest mirror.
Emma Albani
And that's way too much of me -- just ax Dan Tritter.
Jerel Zoltick
a Jew.
JMZ
dtritter
[little albie's usual round of gossip snipped...]
> we should also look for a little into the> nearest mirror.
in his/her case, a frightening prospect.
little albie should read the legge memoir, to get a few facts right. and
since it was actually written by my late friend, gustl breuer, who told
me what was and wasn't left out, i'd prefer to let that pass. it's only
when we get to the end that emma, this puny musical louella parsons ["my
first exclusive..."] turns what he passes as scholarly material into:
>
> And that's way too much of me -- just ax Dan Tritter.
that's spelled a-x-e, albie, the one applied to most of your literary
[?!] output by discerning editors and producers, with gratifyingly
increased frequency. this must be your sole remaining outlet, and even
some internet lists have excluded your garbage.
most have considered three consecutive words from little albie to be
"way too much of [him]." they turn rancid in daylight and nauseating by
moonlight.
dft
Emma Alban
english for ask.
You really are moron, a humorless one to boot. I have spoken to Frau Legge as
recently as two years ago; I am not a proto fascist locked into admiring the
provincial Met of the 50's; and thank goodness unlike you I am not senile. I
hope you are McVickor are eating each other's bananas swinging from trees -- I
imagine it's the only persuit that suits you.
Your friend,
Emma Albani
Merkurrr
>this must be your sole remaining outlet,
regrettably, this is YOUR sole remaining outlet.
Michael Kalman
james jorden
Emma has quit or been thrown off at least six times (at last count)
under various names; "she" has also been expelled from Standing Room at
least twice (under various names) and most recently she has immolated
herself on Opera Oasis, a venue she once bestrode like a colossus.
No one can be banned from rec.music.opera unless his ISP cancels his
account, a very extreme measure that is taken only in the most grave
cases. Emma (by her own admission) has been warned by her ISP several
times to cease and desist the nastiness; so far as I know, Tritter never
has been.
This is not to say that I agree with Tritter's pugnacious posting style;
I honestly believe he could catch far more flies with honey. But he is
still welcome on every board on which he has ever participated; Emma
most definitely is not.
Merkurrr wrote:
--
james jorden
jjo...@ix.netcom.com
http://www.parterre.com
"Gay people not only keep opera going,
they keep plays about opera going."
--- Bette Midler
Emma Alban
He's a liar
>Emma has has also been expelled from Standing Room at least twice (under
various names)<
I have never had an assumed name at SR -- it's not possible there so while I
sign Emma Albani, my "real name" is posted. I have never been "thrown off"
(Jorden was) in fact I have been solicited to keep posting there. I do so
sporadically because I do have more in my life than NGs.
>she has immolated herself on Opera Oasis, a venue she once bestrode like a
colossus.>
I have about 50 e-mails imploring me to come back to OO. Anyone who accesses
that site can see a lot of them published. I've had more IM's than that.
Jorden immolated himself there and was entirely unlamented. And may well have
been thrown off by AOL.
I have been reconsidering the amount of time I spent on the 'net -- I just got
wired in June and became addicted, I'm afraid. I like a lot of the people on
OO and may post there occasionally again. However Jorden, McVicker, Tritter
and their allies have stalked me from list to list. I am not the only one who
thinks they have engaged with Kosovsky at Opera-l in a coordinated campaign of
character assassination. And most people have wanted me to stop posting. This
includes everyone at Opera News (the magazine, SR maintains a somewhat separate
identity) -- it was McVicker who posted they detested me and would never hire
me again. Not only did the editor in chief and Brian Kellow immediately meet
with me to be sure I knew he was a fool (the worried supervisor at SR forwarded
that lie); but sad to report for all, you will be seeing a lot more of me in
those august pages this late winter and spring.
<Emma (by her own admission) has been warned by her ISP several times to cease
and desist the nastiness<
I received ONE politely worded rebuke about using a phrase about one of the
quasi (or do I mean crazy) "authorities" who posts here having his testa up his
cullo. No warning about "nasty attacks". Again anyone who can read (aside
from Jorden and his posse of anemic Bloodz) can see that where I disagree I try
to be balanced and am quick to thank people who catch me in my many errors (as
Michael Black did recently).
I am still, as it happens on Opera-l. Strange how little of substance there is
there, save of course for Mr. Jorden using the list to advertise his priceless
magazine.
2. Second it is my nature to respond to phonies and people whose attacks on me
are vicious, unprincipled and finally irrelevant. I post here when and if I
feel like it. Who reads may, who doesn't, likewise. I won't let these people
drive me off. At the same time, even as I write this I have other things to
think about. And there's a point when doing this has very diminishing returns.
Tritter and McVicker have no place to write (I was told at opera news that
McVicker was paid for his Capecchi obit because they needed to plug a hole --
as it was my posting on Opera-l about him -- it's in the archives -- was far
more detailed and informed); and Jorden has his little zine. I am regularly
employed as a writer at a number of places and also do other things (I still
even coach singers -- for free when I like them). I also, believe it or not,
do creative work. Because they don't know about it (one of many things they
know nothing about, we could start with music) Tritter, Jorden and McVicker
deny it exists. Helen Keller saw and heard better -- which tells you something
about the quality of their postings here.
Emma Albani
dtritter
retail establishments and elsewhere here than he has contributed
meritless gossip to the internet [a very large number indeed]. i wonder
if frau legge would actually admit to having discourse with louella
albani. when last heard from, she did not suffer fools gladly. the nasdp
connections have been fairly well documented, and perhaps hedda albani
would be comfortable in that company, not excluding that of that well
known card-carrying non-jew, frau legge's late consort.
humor? there is a certain mirthless aspect to the spectacle of a failed
scrivener reduced to tilting at internet windmills, unarmed.
dft
james jorden
this is also the only opera discussion board that is not monitored. I think the
comparison is pretty obvious: any board you *can* be kicked off, you have been.
Tritter is still a member in good standing of every board he has ever joined.
Or is it all the fault of that internet cabal that ruined poor Robert Wilson's
career too?
Emma Alban
>Or is it all the fault of that internet cabal that ruined poor Robert Wilson's
career too?<
1. you'd grow hair, erase your tattoo and lose your prince albert if you had
Robert Wilson's career; or one fortieth his impact on art in america and indeed
the world over the past thrity years. He had his innings as the 60's equivalent
of a zerox repairman too, so did Philip Glass. They put their spare time to
better use than a slime rag.
2. yes, you stand by your lies, that's what liars do.
Emma Albani
james jorden
that his LOHENGRIN production was a misuse of many fine talents, notably his own.
I do remain stunned that so superb and confident an artist would buy into the utter
fiction (promulgated primarily by Mr. Innaurato) that any negative reaction to his
work is the result of "fiat and hatemongering." Oh, well. Maybe Wilson believed
that nonsense just because he read it in the TIMES. Serves him right for trusting
some of the people who write (or, rather, who *wrote*) for "The Newspaper of
Record."
> 1. you'd grow hair, erase your tattoo and lose your prince albert
> if you had Robert Wilson's career;
Yes, Albert. But then you wouldn't have the excuse of hating me because I'm
beautiful.
Enzo62
>I am not the only one who
>thinks they have engaged with Kosovsky at Opera-l in a coordinated campaign
>of
>character assassination. And most people have wanted me to stop posting.
>This
>includes everyone at Opera News (the magazine, SR maintains a somewhat
>separate
>identity) -- it was McVicker who posted they detested me and would never hire
>me again. Not only did the editor in chief and Brian Kellow immediately meet
>with me to be sure I knew he was a fool (the worried supervisor at SR
>forwarded
>that lie);
Assuming any of this frenzied rant is true, I'm sure Brian and the staff of
Opera News will be delighted to see their actions blared to the cyberspace
community by loose-lipped Albertina. Have another bottle of red wine, dear.
Or is it a Ben and Jerry's kind of evening?
Jason McVicker
"Us opera singers ain't dumb!"
Katia Ricciarelli
dtritter
albert innaurato. it's my understanding that honey is the object of
affection of some insects and bears. i'm not certain that it has any
effect on swine.
dft
Enzo62
Large quantities of Haagen-Dasz and red wine will do in this case.
james jorden
from my own experience here and there on the web. Not to say that
sweetness and light works with everyone -- witness the mad, raving
Emma. For her I recommend a good strong barbituate -- and I wouldn't
blame you if you left the open bottle on the nightstand.
dtritter wrote:
> james jorden advised my looking at the honey/vinegar analogy anent
> albert innaurato. it's my understanding that honey is the object of
> affection of some insects and bears. i'm not certain that it has any
> effect on swine.
>
> dft
Emma Alban
By my count you've used the ice cream line about forty times. You're not even
original. I used it about myself about eighty times. Of course, even if we
forget your limited repertory of snaps (hasn't Jimmy screwed some into you by
now?) your IQ is very low. So you have my pity. By the way I'm told you're
offering free CDs at the Oasis, trying to buy allies there. You going to offer
your body next?
Love,
Emma
sagittarius
I am very confused...
Are Albert Innaurato, Emma Alban(i), Jason McVicker,
DTritter, JJorden and The Crisco Kid famous names in American Opera?
Sagittarius
Katia Ricciarelli, Legge and Schwarzkopf I know...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enzo62 <enz...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19981213182012...@ng-ft1.aol.com>...
> Albert Innaurato wrote:
>
>
it was McVicker who
james_...@smtplink.mssm.edu
> I am very confused...
Fair enough. You're new here, and perhaps to usenet as well. The deal is
this: some people take disagreement personally and get all bent out of shape;
that leads to personal arguments on the newsgroup. Bit of a bore, actually,
but that's what comes from dealing with real flawed human beings.
RMO is actually somewhat above average in signal-to-noise; some newsgroups are
literally nothing but flames, or else off-topic political garbage. There's a
good deal of content here, even if it does require a bit of digging.
james jorden (D/B/A jjorden)
jjo...@ix.netcom.com
http://www.parterre.com
Joe
In article <01be29c7$73f32d60$LocalHost@ajax>, h...@unforgettable.com wrote:
> I am very confused...
>
dtritter
>
> Yes, they were all in the original cast of Wagner's AIDA.
>
> In article <01be29c7$73f32d60$LocalHost@ajax>, h...@unforgettable.com wrote:
>
> > I am very confused...> > Are Albert Innaurato, Emma Alban(i), Jason McVicker,> > DTritter, JJorden and The Crisco Kid famous names in American Opera?
> >
> > Sagittarius
>
Joe, unlike the others, I never aspired to sing the title role or the
Egyptian princess, or even the priestess. I just wanted a fair shake to
be cast as the Messenger. Bob Nagy beat me out in the audition, which
only shows that the Hungarians are never out of the running...
dft
james_...@smtplink.mssm.edu
> Yes, they were all in the original cast of Wagner's AIDA.
Not only that, Jason replaced Sena Jurinac on only four weeks' notice.
jj
sagittarius
conducted and does anyone know where I can get a recording of this?
Sagittarius
Joe <jfu...@spec.net> wrote in article
<jfuller-1812...@ntcp76.spec.net>...
> Yes, they were all in the original cast of Wagner's AIDA.
>
> In article <01be29c7$73f32d60$LocalHost@ajax>, h...@unforgettable.com
wrote:
>
> > I am very confused...
> >
> > Are Albert Innaurato, Emma Alban(i), Jason McVicker,
> > DTritter, JJorden and The Crisco Kid famous names in American Opera?
> >
> > Sagittarius
> >
> >