The world premiere of “The Silent Woman,” Richard Strauss’ latest opera was given here last night and passed without any anti-Jewish demonstration, despite the fact that the libretto of the opera was written by Stefan Zweig, famous German-Jewish author who is now in exile.
The name of Stefan Zweig appeared on the program, despite the opposition of Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda. Goebbels himself, who was expected at the premiere, did not reply to the invitation.
Richard Strauss began his work on the opera in 1932, before the Nazis came into power. It was then that Stefan Zweig prepared the libretto. Pressure was later exercised upon Strauss by Nazi officials not to use Zweig’s text. The composer, however, insisted on using it, emphasizing that his choice of a Jewish librettist was made long before Hitler became the ruler of Germany, which testifies that he had no intention of defying the Nazi theories against the Jews.
NINE RECEIVE DIPLOMAS
The Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, 550 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, held its seventh annual graduation exercises last night. Nine students who had completed a five-year course received diplomas.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
