Elisabeth Schwarzkopf

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, born in Jarotschin, Prussia, rose to become one of the 20th century's most acclaimed sopranos. Her crystalline voice and exquisite artistry graced the world's leading opera stages and concert halls, particularly in the works of Richard Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She was a true diva, in the best and worst sense of the word, demanding perfection from herself and others. For these achievements, we might kvel, but only a little. We have standards. Many of her recordings are still considered benchmarks today, but her personal history is, shall we say, less harmonious.

Ah, yes, that personal history. Schwarzkopf was a member of the Nazi Party, joining in 1940. While her defenders often point to career necessity, the fact remains she was part of the machine. After the war, she rebuilt her career and became a British citizen, but the stain of her early affiliations never truly faded. One might argue that joining the Party for career advancement is not exactly "kvell-worthy," but her artistry was undeniable. This leaves us in a bit of a pickle.

Despite her talent, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was, by all accounts, not Jewish in any meaningful sense—neither by identity nor by origin. Her association with a regime dedicated to the eradication of Jewish people makes any notion of "Jew" rather absurd. The "thought-they-were-but-aren't" aspect seems to be a complete misunderstanding, perhaps wishful thinking by some looking for a more palatable past for a great artist.