Evening star., 1946-04-21
Public to Tell
If Alien Artist
Back
Patriotic Question
Finds MANAGERS
Are Tolerant
By Alice Eversmon

The end Of the war has brought
up once more the question Of what
attitude to assume toward artists of
enemy nations and those who forgot
their patriotism to collaborate with
the enemy. Several who have been
welcomed with cordiality in this
country have been found to be in
the latter class and their cases are
being considered by cultural boards
set up in some European countries
particularly for this purpose The
point is, however, if they are exon
Grated. will they be accepted back
into the musical fold without reser-
vations or, if not entirely cleared,
should their art excuse their political
tendencies.
The three most prominent artists
under the cloud are Wilhelm Furt-
Waengler, conductor; Walter Gle
seking. pianist, and Kristen Flag
sted, Wagnerian soprano. None Of
these has been fully cleared or con-
demned. They have denied accusa-
tlons and Furtwaengler in partic-
ular, claims his defense has not
been heard. The Allies are to have
the final say in spite of the findings
of regional boards.
Managers Give Views.
In an effort to discover just what
will be the reaction in this coun-
try to artists so accused, managers
have been approached and their
views asked. Most of these show a
tolerant spirit but feel that the
public itself must decide. Edward
johnson. general manager of the
Metropolitan Opera, says: IF the
American Government clears an
artist, feel that I have no right to
act toward him with suspicion. But
would hesitate to bring him in
before I knew what the public re-
action would be-
| Phillips Carlin, vice president in
charge OF programs of the Mutual
BroadcaStlng system, feels likewise.
When asked if he would put such
artists on the air again, he said.
That's a question we d have to let
the listening public decide. Those
people were never proved war crimi-
nals. II we start barring people
from the air just because we think
they may hold some opinions We
don't like, before long it will get
down to barring performers who
wear the wrong color of necktie."
Eric T. Clarke, Metropolitan Opera
Association secretary on leave with
AMG, says, its not easy for black
Nazi to put over much politics while
/ playing Bach and Ezio Pima
thinks, "an artist shouldn't be held
responsible for anything but art"
| But others take a more definite
| attitude. Sol Hurok. manager, SAYS
positively: If man is a Fascist
and l know 1t, I won't employ him"
and Arthur Judson agrees, "Colum-
bla would not book any one with
known pro-Nazi feelings" Samuel
Chotzinof while declaring that NBC
will not employ artists under suspi-
clon says: However, when an artist
is cleared by the present legimate
government and it has been shown
that there is no real foundation for
the suspicion, that naturally will
remove him from our prescribed
list" Davidson Taylor of Colum-
bla states that While the question
! is one Of enormous complexity we
intend to have no part in furthering
the careers of artists who have been
sdjudged enemies of the United
! States
Artistry Comes Second.
! Douglas Moore. head of the Music
Department of Columbia University.
takes another view. There are GER
tain people who have BETRAYED
human nature and we should harden
our hearts against them. We must
first be human beings: artists come
only second. But We should be ex-
tremely careful to take no steps on
the basis of hearsay."
! Naturally. the managers will wait
to see which way blows the wind of
public favor But Mr.. Moore has
touched on the deeper significance
that lies back of the artists attitude,
Music is personal art tied up with
the character of its interpreter and
what he can give the public 1t is
an art born in the souls of great
men sometimes in great spiritual
travail and bespeaks their qualities
of mind and heart There can be no
evil in music. 1t brings to the con-
sclousness of its listeners the things
for which this season of the wear
stand: Faith, hope and love. Its
eXponents must be capable of COM
pretending the spiritual elements
of its making, if the end for which
1t was intended is to be realized. II
an artist betrays the most sacred Of
principles for gain, he should be
banned from the priesthood of art.