This book was written by Egon Seefehlner (born 1912 in Vienna), who was first a young law student, an aspiring Austrian diplomat and later director of Berlin Deutsche Oper during the wall and the Wiener Staatsoper. He was one of my great-uncles. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Anschluss of Austria by Hitler’s Germany, he was drawn into World War II as a soldier against his will. After the war, he became a key figure in the cultural reconstruction of Western Europe, significantly through his positions in the opera houses of West Berlin and Vienna and through his international commitment to European classical and modern music. The read leads us through a great amount of artists and events that brings us closer to what opera has meant in mid-century Europe.
At a time when Europe needs to become stronger, it is advisable to take a look at the cultural roots and history of our union. The book reminds us that Europe’s position in the world is also due to the prestige of European culture, and that this culture did not emerge by chance. This knowledge can be pretty useful for soft power experts, as well as for people in the defense and security policy profession. But first and foremost for the opera-lover.
About:
- Author: Egon Seefehlner
- Die Musik meines Lebens
- Title: The Music of My Life
- Publication Date: January 1, 1983
- Binding: Hardcover
- Publisher: Neff Vienna
- Number of Pages: 276
- Language: German
- Price: Antiquarian around €7.00
- Memoirs
Leave a Reply