What We Lost in Exchange for Prosperity

Today, when I flew on United Airlines, they were playing Beethoven’s Ninth conducted by Furtwängler. The details were imprecise, and I do not think the performance was technically accomplished by any means, yet for some reason it brought me to tears.

Come to think of it, performance technique has advanced tremendously. But what about the power to move people? It is probably not just the conductor. I feel that the depth of people who had overcome times of hardship together permeates the voice of every member of the chorus. By comparison, how insubstantial today’s performances sound.

Over these 50 years, we have gained prosperity. We have also gained peace. But perhaps the time has come to look back and ask what we lost in exchange.