Arnold Schönberg and summer retreat antisemitism in the Salzkammergut
Online memorial exhibition
Anti-Jewish proclamations
Object #28
Anti-Jewish proclamations
Alban Berg to Helene Berg, 28/29 June 1921
Austrian National Library, Vienna
“But I was upset. Webern had quickly told me something that literally made me blanch; [Erwin] Ratz received a letter from Trudi [Trudi Schönberg] saying that they are all returning to – hang on to your hat! – Vienna! There are anti-Jewish proclamations there. A poster! So the Schönbergs have resolved to leave Mattsee today (Tuesday), stay a couple of days in Salzburg and then travel to Mödling. […] That is, say and write nothing to anyone! Greatest discretion! No one may know about the ‘anti-Jewish’ incidence! […] Now, then, about Schönberg’s return; if it really comes to that, it may never be said that it is because of ‘persecution of the Jews:’ rather, I believe, they want to say that Schönberg could not tolerate the climate. But I still hope that it can be put in order there. After all, Schönberg’s brother’s wife is the daughter of Mattsee’s mayor [recte: Salzburg].
And then, apart from Schönberg, there so many Christians there: Greis[s]le, Kaltenborn, van der Linden, Steinbauer - - the whole thing is again just delusion! All the Austrian summer retreats are full of Jews and the whole populace is antis[e]mitic. But it would never occur to them to harm a hair on their head. On the contrary: if someone has been beaten up so far, it was the Communists thrashing the Catholics!”
Cf. Therese Muxeneder: Arnold Schönbergs Konfrontationen mit Antisemitismus (III), in: Journal of the Arnold Schönberg Center 16/2019. Edited by Eike Feß and Therese Muxeneder. Wien 2019, p. 165–254
Introduction
This year’s tourist season in Mattsee
Object #1
Heinrich Schönberg with his wife Berta and his daughter Margit
Object #2
Come visit me
Object #3
Villa Nora
Object #4
It’s lovely here
Object #5
Harmonielehre
Object #6
A popular vacation destination
Object #7
Arrogance and Oriental Allures
Object #8
Row-boating
Object #9
Summer retreat free of Jews
Object #10
He is in good humor
Object #11
Heil Salzburg! Salzburg wants the Anschluss!
Object #12
How are you and yours in Mattsee?
Object #13
You will be pleased with me
Object #14
Kaiser-Elisabeth-Bahn
Object #15
Convivial gatherings
Object #16
Antisemitic scandals
Object #17
For rent to Aryans
Object #18
Disharmony
Object #19
Away with the Jews!
Object #20
They are doing well there
Object #21
Arnold Schönberg: Felix Greissle
Object #22
Arnold Schönberg: Harmonielehre
Object #23
Arnold Schönberg: the theory of coherence
Object #24
It must be splendid there
Object #25
I am not staying a day longer
Object #26
Threat in his own house
Object #27
Anti-Jewish proclamations
Object #28
The composer’s baptismal certificate
Object #29
Arnold Schönberg: on Zemlinsky
Object #30
The Jewish colony in Mattsee
Object #31
That outrageous, incredible thing
Object #32
The community physician
Object #33
An Aryan summer vacationer
Object #34
A summer retreat free of Jews
Object #35
Einstein’s propaganda speech
Object #36
The revolting press notice
Object #37
Sedition
Object #38
Antisemitic racial attitude
Object #39
All is calm within me
Object #40
Imaginary and material damage
Object #41
Guests of Max Ott
Object #42a
Guests of Max Ott
Object #42b
Arrival in Traunkirchen
Object #43
Departure
Object #44
Very ugly at the end
Object #45
Domestic and foreign newspapers
Object #46
Villa Josef
Object #47
Arnold and Mathilde Schönberg
Object #48
Shaken awake
Object #49
Such circumstances
Object #50
Arnold Schönberg: Baroness Löwenthal
Object #51
Traunkirchen
Object #52
Arnold Schönberg: Prelude
Object #53
A ridiculous matter
Object #54
Hegemony in the sphere of music
Object #55