Klarinet Archive - Posting 001059.txt from 2000/12

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Wlach the Nazi?
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 19:27:56 -0500

In a message dated 12/20/00 4:00:18 AM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
writes:

<< What evidence do you have that Wlach was a Nazi? Not that I'm doubting
your
word; I would just like to know your source of information. >>

I was wondering whether anyone would ever ask. When I was preparing to record
some works by Rudolph Jettel (coprincipal clarinetist of the VSOO/VPO along
with Wlach), I received a copy of a letter written by Jettel's widow from a
former Jettel student. In the letter, she described the situation in Vienna
during the Nazi era. She happens to be Jewish, and Jettel kept her hidden
from the authorities. Wlach knew this, and was constantly trying to get
Jettel to turn in his own wife!

In addition, he would not let Viktor Polotschek (former principal clarinetist
of the VSOO/VPO, then with Boston) sit in with the orchestra during a visit
to Vienna. Polotschek was Jewish, do the math. When Polotschek showed up at
the rehearsal, Wlach made a very obnoxious anti-semetic comment to him
(remember, these two men had been colleagues in the orchestra only a few
years before).

In addition, when Felix Galmir (great violin pedegogue and former VSOO/VPO
member. . .Jewish) joined the orchestra, he was harassed by the Nazi members,
including Wlach. In the NY Times obituary for Galimir last year, an incident
was mentioned where the "principal clarinetist" of the orchestra was heard to
ask "Galimir, have you eaten your matsos today?" during the silence before a
concert. That clarinetist had to be Wlach, it certainly could not have been
Jettel!

Mrs. Jettel claims Wlach was actually a member of the SS, I have not been
able to independantly confirm this, but I have no reason to doubt it is true.
In any case, before the anschluss, there were 25 or so members of the
VSOO/VPO who were Jewish, including the concertmaster. All were expelled and
many died in concentration camps. It's a chapter in the orchestra's history
that is often conveniently overlooked.

Sorry for being such a crab during this festive time of year! I have
actually been in a pretty good mood.

David Hattner, the spirit of the holidays, New York style!

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