I must look for Mauersberger’s music on Spotify. I briefly visited Dresden and at the risk of repeating myself the recreation of the Frauenkirche is quite remarkable. If I may a couple of book recommendations. Dresden by Frederick Taylor (Bloomsbury 2005) and Dresden: The Fire and The Darkness by Sinclair McKay (Penguin/Viking 2020). Looking forward to listening to your program on BBC R3.
Fascinating. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I’d be very interested to hear more about the work you are doing for Radio 3. Do let us know when it is broadcast.
I have one comment about the fire bombing of Dresden, and it’s said as an American (albeit of Bavarian roots). I’ve used it in my prosecutorial career and in political observations: no good comes from an action born of hatred. The fire bombing was born from such hate.
Good piece, thank you, and I look forward to the next ones. The art that sprung from these events is a whole world of its own. I will start a short course in a few weeks about the London blitz and the responses and works of visual artists of the time---painting, photography, sculpture.
There is something about trauma and destruction that inspires powerful art, even many years later. It would be interesting to compare how London and Dresden processed this.
I must look for Mauersberger’s music on Spotify. I briefly visited Dresden and at the risk of repeating myself the recreation of the Frauenkirche is quite remarkable. If I may a couple of book recommendations. Dresden by Frederick Taylor (Bloomsbury 2005) and Dresden: The Fire and The Darkness by Sinclair McKay (Penguin/Viking 2020). Looking forward to listening to your program on BBC R3.
Thanks, James. We also interviewed Fred for this.
Fascinating. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I’d be very interested to hear more about the work you are doing for Radio 3. Do let us know when it is broadcast.
Thanks, Peter! It'll be broadcast in the third week of October, I think.
I have one comment about the fire bombing of Dresden, and it’s said as an American (albeit of Bavarian roots). I’ve used it in my prosecutorial career and in political observations: no good comes from an action born of hatred. The fire bombing was born from such hate.
Hate and revenge. Said as a Canadian born in Germany.
This is very moving. I wonder if there might be a place to quote the wonderful Dresden-born writer Durs Grunbein in the BBC program?
Yes, his work is directly connected to this, and we're hoping to incorporate it.
Good piece, thank you, and I look forward to the next ones. The art that sprung from these events is a whole world of its own. I will start a short course in a few weeks about the London blitz and the responses and works of visual artists of the time---painting, photography, sculpture.
There is something about trauma and destruction that inspires powerful art, even many years later. It would be interesting to compare how London and Dresden processed this.
Great piece. I too will look for his music.
It is performed annually for commemorations, so some performances can be found on YouTube if you're interested.
So many sad stories from that time, wonderful city is Dresden ,
Danke!