Rare Austrian Production of 'The Sound of Music' Reflects Nation's Schizophrenic Nazi Past

Associated Press ^ | 2-27-05 | George Jahn

[GOP_Proud]

< Once there, many of them ignore Mozart, the city's most famous native son...>


As a budding (adult) classical violinist, that hurts to read.

[Pharmboy]

I can imagine...I have been an avid listener to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, et.al., since high school and now play various pieces (in the car, usually) for my teenage daughters who are all good students. I pick accessible works like Beethoven piano sonatas and the Bach Orchesral Suites. Sorry to say, they are not interested.

But maybe they will be one day, so do not be discouraged! The world needs beautiful music played by dedicated artists...

[happyathome]

Right. And the former Hungarian secret police (AVO) headquarters at 60 Andrassy ut in Budapest is now a Wendy's. Hooray for capitalism.

[Borges]

It's not a folk song. 'Edelwiess' was written in 1959 by Rodgers and Hammerstien for the stage musical. It was the last song they wrote together since Hammerstien died the next year.

[Alouette]

I never saw the play, I'm referring to the 1968 movie with Zero Mostel and Gene wilder. Dick Shawn played the pothead who auditioned for Hitler. Piss-your-pants hilarious.

[jocon307]

"Dick Shawn played the pothead who auditioned for Hitler."

Hubby says it is Shawn's finest moment. But for me, nothing can top Gene Wilder's "now I'm wet and hysterical!" line.

[cyn]

"Joerg Haider powered his rightist Freedom Party into the government in 2001 with populist rhetoric sometimes tinged with anti-Semitism. Though he has toned down his comments in recent years and his Freedom Party has lost much of its support, it still has an extreme right-wing element known to admire Hitler."

National Socialist German Worker's Party

[dsc]

"The Europeans say that the two greatest achievements of Austria are convincing the world that 1) Hitler was German and 2) Beethoven was Austrian."

Yes, but that pales in comparison to the left's achievement in convincing the world that Nazism was right-wing.

[Pharmboy]

Yes, but that pales in comparison to the left's achievement in convincing the world that Nazism was right-wing.

Now THAT is brilliant. You will be quoted...

[The_Reader_David]

A bit odd putting on that bit of schlock in the city of Mozart. Of course, mention of it brings back the recollection The Sound of Music did afford me the opportunity of predating Prince Harry as a pantomime Nazi: I played the Nazi admiral in my high school senior class production. "You vill report to ze naval base at Bremmerhaven immediately!"

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Hubby says it is Shawn's finest moment. But for me, nothing can top Gene Wilder's "now I'm wet and hysterical!" line.

"And I don't have my blue blankie." Which is a catch phrase in my house, whenever something freaks us out or we can't stop laughing over.

[rogator]

"The Europeans say that the two greatest achievements of Austria are convincing the world that 1) Hitler was German and 2) Beethoven was Austrian."
I had always thought that it was convincing the world that the Austrian king saved Europe and Western Civilization by defeating the Islamic armies at the gates of Vienna in 1683.

[jocon307]

"...had always thought that it was convincing the world that the Austrian king saved Europe and Western Civilization by defeating the Islamic armies at the gates of Vienna in 1683."

I think that was actually some Polish guy, like the king of Poland, or something.

I stand to be corrected.

[rogator]

The Polish king was Sobieski.
But I have heard that just about every tour guide in Vienna will say "The Austrian King"...and get really pi$$ed if you bring up Sobieski.

[Clemenza]

I played Captain Georg Von Trapp in my high school production of the Sound of Music.

Anal Vice

Anal Vice

Got my a-s in viiiiice grip...

[Clemenza]

The great Jan Sobieski.

BTW: In honor of Sobieski's victory over the Turks, the Jewish community created the bagel. I kid you not.

[Clemenza]

"FLAUNT IT BABY, FLAUNT IT!"

[Cronos]

I think by demystifying the Nutzis and making them characters of ridicule, Mel Brooks' movie does a far better work of destroying the Nazi myth than any other movie except Schindler's list.

[Caipirabob]

And when some teenage prince wore swastika in private costum party, everybody there freak out...

In Sao Paulo during Carnaval '99, I saw the Escola De Samba "Vai-Vai" march and their theme was "Nostradamus" and his predictions. In one of the sections of the performance the school had some 100 dancers dressed as "Silver Nazis" in full Nazi regalia (bare midrifs included.) It was really shocking at the time because I was caught off gaurd (you try6 being sober during Carnval.)

Anyway, they caught hell for it but only for a day or so.

I kind of feel a little sick thinking about it to this day.

[Cronos]

That's not the same thing -- Mozart's birthplace, a place of culture, the commie police, a place to be reviled