In 1939, Claudio Arrau signed off with ‘Heil Hitler’

In 1939, Claudio Arrau signed off with ‘Heil Hitler’

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norman lebrecht

May 11, 2020

Los Nazis en Chile, a book by the Chilean philosopher Victor Farias recently translated into German, is highly critical of the great pianist for remaining in Germany until 1939 and making all the appropriate noises to appease the authorities.

Arrau, 36, was married to a German mezzo and had two small children. His primary concern was the get his family out to his native Chile before Germany started a war.

He was never sympathetic to Nazi aims.

 

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