Podcast #03: CLASSICS behind THE WALL #podcast #classicalmusic

In this episode of Classical Discoveries, we explore the musical landscape of East Germany (GDR) before the fall of the Berlin Wall and examine the high cultural prestige that classical music held there, with insights from musicians such as Olaf Bär and Christine Schornsheim. The discussion highlights how music was used for propaganda, how musicians lived secure yet politically constrained lives, and the roles of key figures like Kurt Sanderling and Hanns Eisler. The episode also looks at important recordings and the practical and political challenges of producing music in the GDR.

Chapters
0:21 Introduction
1:00 Personal GDR Adventures
3:02 As the Wall Came Down
4:06 Education: Artists’ Interviews – Part 1
7:24 Career and Reputation
9:24 Capriccio and the GDR Recordings
13:45 State Propaganda: Artists’ Interviews – Part 2
16:02 Propaganda or Diplomacy?
18:34 Kurt Sanderling
22:28 Jens’ Favourite GDR Recordings
26:41 Travelling: Artists’ Interviews – Part 3
29:02 The Privilege of Travelling
31:30 Composers of the GDR
32:30 Contemporary Classics in the GDR
35:25 Wagner-Régeny
38:23 Hanns Eisler
40:28 Paul Dessau
42:26 Siegfried Matthus
43:50 Find an End

Featured Artists
Kurt Sanderling
Jochen Kowalski
Burkhard Glaetzner
Conrad Muck
Olaf Bär
Petersen Quartet
Herbert Kegel
Christine Schornsheim

Featured Recordings

• Hanns Eisler – The Ballad of the Cripples’ Brigade (Excerpt) – C5434
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C5434!Podcast

• Hanns Eisler – Deutsche Sinfonie, Op. 50: Arbeiterkantate (Excerpt) – C5428
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C5428!Podcast

• Jochen Kowalski – Opera Arias (G. F. Handel: Rinaldo) (Excerpt) – C10213
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C10213!Podcast

• Der Mauerfall – Phoenix440
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/Phoenix440!Podcast

• Johannes Brahms – Symphony No. 4: IV. Più Allegro (Excerpt) – C10600
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C10600!Podcast

• Wagner-Régeny – Genesis (Excerpt) – C5413
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C5413!Podcast

• Paul Dessau – In memoriam Bertolt Brecht, III. Epitaph (Excerpt) – C5019
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C5019!Podcast

• Siegfried Matthus – Der Tod und das Mädchen / The Maiden and Death, I. Giocoso con grazia (Excerpt) – C10744
  🎧 Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/C10744!Podcast

With: Jens F. Laurson (Journalist) and Johannes Kernmayer (Producer)

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#ClassicalDiscoveries #MusicBehindTheWall #EastGermany #GDRMusic #BerlinWall #ClassicalMusic #MusicHistory #ColdWar #Beethoven #HannsEisler #KurtSanderling #HerbertKegel #Podcast #CulturalHeritage