Franz Welser-Möst backs Vienna Phil refugee home

Franz Welser-Möst backs Vienna Phil refugee home

main

norman lebrecht

January 15, 2016

With a week to go they’re still 13,000 Euros short of target, but one maestro has rallied to the appeal.

vienna philharmonic inn

Click here to support the refuge.

Comments

  • Peter says:

    It is frankly laughable that the VPO cannot find 13,000 euros in a heart beat, or that Welser-Möst hasn’t simply phoned a couple of people.

  • Nicola Lefanu says:

    FWM could have supplied the cash humself. By now he must be a very wealthy man.

    • Peter says:

      He does say in the video he is contributing. So I assume the shortfall still remains after that.

    • norman lebrecht says:

      That’s not how it works: his advocacy is worth far more than his cash.

      • mhtetzel says:

        Yes, People should listen to his message and not transform it into just a matter of money.

      • Anon says:

        For a wider cause, yes. But when 13k is needed, we are told, then his 13k is worth exactly the 13k the fundraisers are looking for; his advocacy is just words which may or may not help. It’s probably only a few nights work for him, too, if that…

        That said, all of this cash would arguably do much more to help a greater number if it was spent down at the Syrian borders. A house in Vienna is a gesture, I suppose.

  • John says:

    Why should I donate money to a group that has illegally crossed numerous European borders? True refugees claim asylum in the first safe country they reach: for most, that is Turkey. A large majority in Germany are not refugees, but economic migrants who have taken advantage of the asylum system.

    • jaypee says:

      Here we go again with John’s racist, bigoted and disgusting comments… He’s as predictable as Borstlap with Boulez or Osborne with the Vienna Phil… Except that John’s comments are revolting.

      Mr. Lebrecht, do we REALLY have to be inflicted with “John”‘s moronic comments every time you put something concerning Syrian refugees?
      Unless this is part of your plan to make him look like a revolting jerk. In which case, I must congratulate you: it works!

      • Sergio says:

        Does somebody pay you everytime you say the word “racist?” Of course this John is right. They could stay in Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary – but instead they wanted to go Austria – where now a handful of people will be rewarded with a luxury mansion when the same money could provide food, water and shelter for thousands in refugee camps in Turkey. Please don’t tell my anything else that this is the definition of stupid. This is 100% pathetic from Vienna Philharmonic. They’ve probably read all the demonizing comments from Mr. Lebrect and his claqueurs on slippedisc (and believed these people actually matter.)

      • John says:

        You have never been able to tolerate anyone who disagrees with you about this, Jaypee. Are you able to act like an adult and debate it properly? Of course, there are two sides to the debate. Tell me, with which parts below do you disagree, and why?

        *Aslyum seekers should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.
        *These people are refusing to claim asylum in the first country they reach.
        *Instead, they are claiming asylum in a country they believe provides greater economic opportunities.
        *Crossing international borders without permission is illegal.

        These four points perfectly justify my comment above, whether you have the same opinion or not.

      • Stereo says:

        Sorry Jaypee but John is right,most of these young men are not refugees. Look at the trouble they are causing in Cologne!

        • jaypee says:

          How many refugees were involved in the Cologne incidents? How many Syrian refugees are currently in Germany?
          If we can accuse an entire group of people based on the actions of a few, I’m sure you’ll have no problem if, in the future, I systematically refer to all Catholics as child-molesters… or all right-wingers as fascists… or all Americans as obsese Jesus-freaks gun fanatics…

          @ John

          I told you before, I’ll tell you again: I sincerely wish that one day you find yourself in the middle of a civil war, have to look for help and be told that you’re a criminal and be sent back.

          @Mick

          What you wrote is incredibly wrong and stupid. Get informed and THEN give your opinion.

          This blog reeks of racism. I don’t understand why Mr. Lebrecht allows such repulsive comments to be seen.

          • John says:

            I see, Jaypee, that you have absolutely refused to challenge the four points that formed the basis for my argument. Instead, you have got hysterical and begged for my post to be deleted. I suppose, though, this is only standard practice for many people nowadays, especially those on the left. I am sorry you feel unable to debate like an adult.

            Just to remind you, under international law, those who find themselves in the middle of a civil war should seek help in the first place they reach. Not travel illegally through Europe in search of a favourable financial situation. Are you able to understand this difference, or are you just too touchy to accept it?

  • Mick says:

    The longer we continue to support the “refugee” policies of our loony left governments the faster we arrive at the point where there will be nobody to play any music for, no money for anything, no western culture as we know it at all and indeed not many of us (or our children) will still be alive. In fact it’s most likely too late already, considering that they produce 10 children for every single European one. We don’t even need the influx of another million, the ones already here with all their “rights” are quite enough to dig our grave. The latest infusion of 1 million aggressive criminal single young men, planned and paid for by IS and the Saudis, is just another blow.

    • V.Lind says:

      Slight exaggeration? Despite the fact that I tend to see the force of some of the arguments proffered by John and think some of the reaction to his main point is a bit hysterical, I seriously doubt such arguments are enhanced by made-up figures.

      I do suspect that you are correct that far too many of the migrants are single men, though some of them may be advance parties hoping to bring wives, children, etc. in once they find their feet.

      I do suspect that Mrs. Merkel’s open door policy has made Germany the target destination as the policy implies that the country is welcoming them, and clearly some between Syria and Germany do not. Where would you go if you were on the run from something evil: a place where you were met with hostility and a history of racism (e.g. Hungary)? Or a country that says, come ahead, the more the merrier, room for all?

      But there is validity, too, to the argument that these people making such choices are more economic migrants than refugees by the time they reach Austria, Germany or Scandinavia. And I fail to see why these countries should have to absorb far more than their share of migrants when other nations slam their doors. The EU ought to be telling countries like Poland and the rest of the East Bloc that if they want to stay in the EU, they will have to participate in an EU-sanctioned policy of immigration. They have no great right to rest on their xenophobic laurels — and that is what refusing refugees, as many legitimately are — because they are foreign.

      That IS and the Syrian government are indeed sponsoring some of these people is likely. There may not have been that many involved in Cologne and other centres but it is enough, and they are sowing dissent. However, it drew out the weaselly attitude of the Mayor of Cologne, whose position that women ought to “stay at arm’s length” is tantamount to saying “and should wear a headscarf” — in other words playing into the hands of the mediaeval attitudes that even many of the more decent of these arrivals holds regarding women. And drawing out the information about the absence of reporting and prosecution of similar incidents in Scandinavia out of some sort of pitiful political correctness.

      Canada, where I live, has taken a very welcoming stance toward Syrian refugees, with the new Prime Minister even greeting the first planeload. Stories from the communities where they have been settled have been heartwarming, and many of the arrivals are families. But it is to be hoped a close eye is kept till we see the extent to which the new arrivals adapt to Canadian life. There is an awfully strong streak of political correctness in our shower, too, and with our current PM the son of the inventor of multi-cult, we are likely to hear a lot of it.

      I think some wild things are said on these threads, but I am not sure they should all be dismissed out of hand. he core of the differing views all seem to have some merit. Most westerners are appalled by the extremism of some other citizenries. I think we would be well advised to avoid extreme positions in our own approach, whatever it is, to the ongoing social and societal change that is being thrust on so many of us.

  • John Borstlap says:

    Seeing so many scorning comments, it seems that the VPO – for quite a number or people – can do no good. Off-topic ramblings… quarrelling about political issues… anti-humanist expostulations…. that is the territory of classical music lovers.

  • MOST READ TODAY: