The city of Nuremberg can no longer be accused of too little to debate about the topic “Should an opera be placed in a propaganda building built by the Nazis”? Recently, for example, at the invitation of the city, writers and intellectuals from the top shelf thought about it, co-distributors were Albert Ostermaier, Thea Dorn, Nora Bossong.
How different positions can be – even among spiritual people – could be seen in this round. Someone could even have made friends with the “tearing down” of the Nazi stigmata in Nuremberg. Very amazing, the buildings have been listed for decades, with good reason. But such an attitude is also helpful to illustrate the intellectual range.
Admittedly, this and other debates only took place after the decision of the city council for an interim opera house on the ex-NS site, a beauty mark. On the other hand, of course: better late than never.
The experts were “expressly” instructed to remain silent
Also that one top-class jury to find out exactly where the best place for an opera would be on the Nazi building is commendable. But one would also like to know how the experts from the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds assess the recommendation that has been made. But suddenly they say nothing. It is said that one was “expressly” and “through official channels” instructed to remain silent. uhhh
In fact, the city confirms, indications were given that only the press office, mayor and speakers on city affairs would comment. Basically that’s true. You just have to know that in the past there were few institutions in the city that were questioned directly by the media more often than the Doku-Zentrum. Anyone who wants to know something about Nazi issues – whether in Nuremberg, Hamburg or London – will quickly think of asking the Nuremberg historians. And got a reliable answer there.
In the interim debate, the historians had multiple doubts at a (now preferred by the jury) placement of the opera in the NS inner courtyard. Such dissent is never ideal for a city. On the other hand, see above, there are no ideal solutions to the question on which one could simply agree. A jury recommendation that may be questioned by parts of the city is not optimal. But it is even less ideal to ask experts to remain silent.