German celebrated for bringing music from pre-Hitler era back to life - in Israel

[Skybird]

I do not know to what degree Max Raabe and his Palast-Orchester are known outside Germany, although I know that he has made very successful tours throughout the world. He is singing music and chansons from the swinging 20s, when for some sparkling, short years Berlin was the centre of nightlive in the Western world. He presents the show in a style and manner that is a perfect copy of the style of back then, spicing it with subtle self-irony and always intended, distanced elegance: "We now have a German Waltz. It's not as elegant as a Viennese Waltz, but much louder." Much of the repertoire he is singing, is by Jewish composers. Often the songs are such that they both go straight to the head, but also makes the audience laughing. It's old-fashioned but really great music.

He now was touring Israel - the land where still many older people live who never wanted to return to Germany, or never wanted to listen the sound of German language again. Nevertheless, so it is reported, he is beign celöebrated, and the concerts he gave were great successes. Many people in the audience were happy to hear the old songs again which they remember from their youth and to whose melodies and texts they once had fallen in love with their partners. No ressentiments, at least the German press reports it that way, but great enthusiasm and even thankfulness, joy and laughter.

Reading this story, touched my heart a bit. Unfortunately, reports in English are in limited availability.

Tagespiegel (German) (http://www.tagesspiegel.de/weltspiegel/max-raabe-begeistert-israel/1965024.html;jsessionid=91AEAE93D30926B753F80A2B50 CE71F1)

Jerusalem Post (English) (http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/Article.aspx?id=189655)

Simply good music, beside Glenn Miller my favourite from that 20s-40s era. And given in perfect presentation.

http://www.freundederkuenste.de/uploads/pics/max_raabe.jpg

P.S. His sold out concert in the NY Carnegie Hall 2007 is available both as DVD and CD - getting just top scorings by customers.

[MH]

There were times when people in Israel wouldn't listen anything or buy anything German but those times are long over.
There was a even a Wagner music concert in Israel with guest from Germany which was still very controversial from obvious reasons.

My daughter was not long ago in Germany with youth exchange and liked it there very much.
Times change its been a few generations since ww2 and while people here are taught to remember Holocaust we are not taught to hate Germany or Germans.

[the_tyrant]

I personally think that except maybe punk
the music itself has nothing to do with politics
After all, Wagner did not include "Fascism is awesome" in his lyrics
Probably the only exception is punk music

[Penguin]

Yes, Raabe does make some great music. I really appreciate that he isn't just a copycat performer but provides his own style. I saw a concert of him only on tv, but it was brilliant. The JPost article is quite well written and sums it all up very good. Besides I really cannot imagine to listen to "Bei mir bist du schön" from a male performer, looking forward to listen to his version.
If you like this music, here's a gem I found on youtube yesterday - would prefer to have the record though: "Dark Eyes" in German, performed by Erni Bieler in 1947: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfN8sTGTIto


There were times when people in Israel wouldn't listen anything or buy anything German but those times are long over.
There was a even a Wagner music concert in Israel with guest from Germany which was still very controversial from obvious reasons.

My daughter was not long ago in Germany with youth exchange and liked it there very much.
Times change its been a few generations since ww2 and while people here are taught to remember Holocaust we are not taught to hate Germany or Germans.

Yes, from what I've heard it was more of a problem some decades ago. Israeli visitors to Germany may get a little annoyed that Germans want to talk about politics with them so often - same happens to Americans.

You may like this little vid from Curb your Enthusiasm, bringing a little humour into the debate about Wagner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nS66IvbvcI (I recommend to watch the whole episode though)

I personally think that except maybe punk
the music itself has nothing to do with politics
After all, Wagner did not include "Fascism is awesome" in his lyrics
Probably the only exception is punk music

"Punk ain't no religious cult, punk means thinking for yourself" (DK)
While there are many political punk bands, there are also tons of non- or anti- political bands out there. Music is just music, add political lyrics to it, you have political music.

[Penguin]

arggh, send it off too early! :doh:

I wanted to add that I think that the biggest crime of the Nazis (of course besides the crimes against humanity), was the crime against culture and art. Sadly they were partially lucky in the destruction of it, I am talking not only about the jiddish and jewish culture, but also about the german culture - and a mixture between all of them.
So the performance of Raabe, though his music is non-political, is also a big "**** You!" to all the old and new Nazis: You may have killed the composers and the performers, but the music is undestructable.