Karajan & Gould III

Indeed, the subject seems to have veered off-topic, although there have been some good comments made by others concerning intolerance. My point, once again, was the mental approach to the creative process employed by both Karajan and Glenn Gould. Politics aside, it doesn't alter the fact that Karajan was - and is - one of the great conductors of the last century. And as you say, art should transcend politics.... an opinion I share, and which was expressed by others in this discussion also. But to make Karajan out to be some sort of personification of evil.... that sir, is simply your opinion. I am an admirer of Karajan, but that is my opinion. So is Seiji Ozawa. So is James Galway. He wasn't a concentration camp commandant, he was a conductor. But is this liking or not liking of this or that person's politics (proven or not) or personality traits that relevant? I'm simply pointing out an interesting facet of the creative process employed by Karajan when he thought about music.... something I thought might be akin to that of Glenn Gould. In one of his posts, Pablo said that some artists take art as a unity, something that has to do with humankind, and not just with ideas, possibly of a racist or religious nature. And as you and others have pointed out of course, we have Glenn Gould's own affinity for the music of Richard Wagner. I think most, or a fair number anyway, of people would not choose to have Richard Wagner as a friend should they be contemporaries. Many of his ideas and personal traits would be found offensive using the same measuring stick that many still seem to apply to Herbert von Karajan. Anyhow, I think we've both made our positions clear and I do thank you for your comments. Also those who have made other posts as well. Once again, I do recommend the Richard Osborne book that does take an honest look at the Karajan story.