The Vienna Philharmonic has revoked awards bestowed upon six Nazis, news agencies, including Reuters, are reporting. This will be seen as a big step in the orchestra's coming to terms with a dark chapter in its past.
There has been no public announcement, but inside sources have confirmed the motion, which was passed at a closed-doors internal meeting in October. It comes as part of a concerted move by the VPO to investigate the Nazi years and its involvement in them.
The six Nazis whose awards have been revoked include wartime Vienna governor Baldur von Schirach, whom Reuters point out called his deporting of tens of thousands of Jews "a contribution to European culture." The other five Nazi take backs are: S.S. leader Albert Reitter; head of the German Reich Railway Rudolf Toepfer; German cabinet minister Arthur Seyss-Inquart; mayor of Vienna Hanns Blaschke and Salzburg governor Friedrich Rainer.
Most shocking, perhaps, VPO historians have discovered that Hitler, himself, was due to receive an award from the orchestra. It is unclear whether the award was ever actually given.
If it was, the orchestra will revoke this award, too.
With their New Year's Day concert under Daniel Barenboim looming, one wonders whether the VPO's move will prompt other orchestras in Austria to examine their own archives. They might also be shocked at what they uncover.
