[LEN-E] Article on Olympia in DER SPIEGEL / "Das Reichsorchester"

[Thomas Köhler]

Hi all,

there's a brief (and rather shallow) article on Spiegel online 
commemorating the 70th anniversary of the "Olympia"  film. Nothing new, 
but for completeness sake :

http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/topicalbumbackground/1829/die_frau_die_den_perfekten_nazi_koerper_schuf.html


Another thing: someone I think (Ron?) mentioned the film "Das 
Reichsorchester" on the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra during the Third 
Reich.
Well, I watched it yesterday on TV and found it rather impressive. A 
fine and sometimes chilling account of what was going on in 'cultural 
politics' at the time. The film talks about the general apolitical 
stance of most of the musicians, but also about how Jewish members were 
expelled and some of the musicians joining the Nazi party (who in the 
turn  were expelled from the orchestra, too, after the war). Also very 
uneasy to see how the Philharmonic yearly celebrated the birthday of 
Hitler with a special concert, and Furtwängler conducting Beethoven's 
Ninth with the chorus "All people become brothers" etc. in 1942 for that 
occasion.

Most pertinent to Leni is perhaps a brief excerpt from the Olympics 
opening ceremony, where we get the Richard Strauss "Olympia Hymn" and 
learn that every member of the orchestra got a special 'olympic medal' 
for its participation.
Worth seeing in any case.

Best
Thomas






>