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Nazis’ Showdown on Music Can’t Evade Jewish Angle

June 26, 1934
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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The following is an extract from a publication of the Union of German Newspaper Publishers:

“We forbid Jews appearing on the German stage not only as actors, dancers and singers, but also as authors and composers. We refuse to have Jews writing the librettos of our musical plays, just as much as we object to them acting in them, producing them, doing the scenic effects. We shall allow no compromise.

“And we object just as much to those of Jewish origin who call themselves front fighters. We refuse too to allow on the German stage anyone who is friendly to the Jews, or has married into a Jewish family. This holds good, no matter how important or able these people may be.”

The Fraenkische Tageszeitung, a Streicher publication, comments as follows on an operetta recently produced here:

EVEN ‘WOMAN IN PURPLE’

“The operetta “The Woman in Purple,” by Rudolph Oesterreicher and Leopold Jacobsohn, adapted by Jean Gilbert, is full of excellent stuff, and is delightful and refreshing entertainment. The performance was a complete success, and the City Theatre of Fuerth is sure of a well-packed house for performance after performance of this operetta.”

It so happens that both Oesterreicher and Jacobsohn belong to a certain race of people whose very existence is a source of irritation to the Nazis.

Then there is the Hakenkreuzbanner, which goes into raptures about Leon Jessel’s “Girl From The Schwarzwald.” There were roars of laughter in the theatre, refreshing, real, genuine laughter, heart-felt, liberating, joyful. It lifts us right out of ourselves. Leon Jessel writes gay, lifting dancing music. He is a composer who knows how the waltz tune sets the blood on fire, flames up, runs madly through the veins. He knows how to write good, telling rhythmic compositions. There was a lot of enthusiastic applause. It was a gladdening event.

CAN’T ESCAPE IT

Deutsche Front finds “The Little Dutch Girl” “certainly one of Emerich Kalmann’s best operettas, His music is skilful and full of meat,” it says. “Many of his earlier tunes are classic, and as pleasing today as when they were first heard. The house was packed and enthusiastic,” it proceeds. “The cast was repeatedly called before the curtain, and there were heaps of flowers and congratulations. “The Little Dutch Girl” will pack the City Theatre over and over again.

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