WAGNER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 26 November 1936, Page 8

WAGNER

DISTINCT DRIFT AWAY IN GERMANY (By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 29th October. There are, or were, some people who even blamed Wagner for the Great Wait They argued that his harmonies had a good deal to do with goose-stepping instincts of the Prussian people. Herr Hitler so far supports this theory that he is a tremendous disciple of Wagner, and yet in musical Germany there is said to lie a distinct drift away from Wagnerian idolatry. A similar trend is observable in the musical taste of London and our leading provincial music centres. Sir Landon Ronald may contend that the Tristan prelude spans tlie gulf between this world and the next, but ordinary mortals are getting to feel that Wagner has interludes of verbose pomposity. Tn the Spring of next year London will welcome, as enthusiastically almost as a heavyweight boxing champion, quite another musical personality in Signor Toscanini. He is undisputed Lord of the Baton, though Mussolini because he refused to conduct 'the Fascist March, is alleged to have called him “a clown.”