Reich's Orchestra by Misha Aster
A remarkable depiction of the moral ambiguities of living under the Nazis told through the story of one of the world's great orchestras.
For many decades, the history of the Berlin Philharmonic during the Third Reich was shrouded in mystery - an ethical tabooAster has finally broken the silence, navigating this terrible era with clarity, insight and sensitivity. The Philharmonic's experiences during its early years as a co-operative, followed by the period under Goebbels' control, were fundamental to shaping both the orchestra's musical culture and its organisational development ever since; the historic personalities and struggles are instantly familiar to the musicians today. With this book, Aster has made an important contribution to the conscience of our orchestra. -- Sir Simon Rattle * . *
The first comprehensive study of how Germany's musical crown jewel sold out to Nazi patronage and suffered the machinations of self-styled culture supremo, Joseph Goebbels... Aster's book painstakingly lifts the veil. -- Jewish Chronicle * . *
The Berlin Philharmonic is acknowledged as one of the world's great orchestras, but there was a big gap on its written record - from 1933 to 1945. During this period, it provided the Reich with a cultural flagship... Misha tells the story of these lost years for the first time. -- Jewish Telegraph * . *
A jewel of the Nazi regime, a propaganda tool, and a microcosm of Hitler's Germany... Aster does illuminate the startling continuity pre- and post-1933. -- Scotsman * . *
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's dark connection with Nazi Germany has always been a mystery but a new book uncovers a hidden history where the orchestra was used by the state as a propaganda tool. -- Sunday Express * . *
A revelatory new book that chronicles the horribly close relationship between the most famous orchestra on the planet and the most evil regime the world has ever known. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *
The first comprehensive study of how Germany's musical crown jewel sold out to Nazi patronage and suffered the machinations of self-styled culture supremo, Joseph Goebbels... Aster's book painstakingly lifts the veil. -- Jewish Chronicle * . *
The Berlin Philharmonic is acknowledged as one of the world's great orchestras, but there was a big gap on its written record - from 1933 to 1945. During this period, it provided the Reich with a cultural flagship... Misha tells the story of these lost years for the first time. -- Jewish Telegraph * . *
A jewel of the Nazi regime, a propaganda tool, and a microcosm of Hitler's Germany... Aster does illuminate the startling continuity pre- and post-1933. -- Scotsman * . *
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's dark connection with Nazi Germany has always been a mystery but a new book uncovers a hidden history where the orchestra was used by the state as a propaganda tool. -- Sunday Express * . *
A revelatory new book that chronicles the horribly close relationship between the most famous orchestra on the planet and the most evil regime the world has ever known. -- Richard Morrison * The Times *
Misha Aster was born in Canada in 1978. He studied at the London School of Economics, McGill University, Harvard University, and the free University of Berlin, and has written on music and politics for The Independent and Die Zeit among others. As a stage director he has mounted opera productions in both North America and Europe, and was on the production team for Enrique Sánchez Lansch's film The Reichsorchester - The Berlin Philharmonic and the Third Reich.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780285638938 |
| ISBN 10 | 0285638939 |
| Title | Reich's Orchestra |
| Author | Misha Aster |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Profile Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2010-10-31 |
| Number of pages | 320 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |