Ceremony of Conferment of the Title Doctor Honoris Causa
of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music
Maestra CHRISTA LUDWIG
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Ladies and Gentelmens! On today's ceremony we are presenting the diploma of an Honorary Doctor to Ms Christa Ludwig. We are presenting this diploma to a world-famous singer with unquestionable artistic achievements. And, although the Senate of the Academy unanimously decided to award her with the highest academic recognition, having noticed Maestra Christa Ludwig's "special merits for the music culture", I would also like to add some more words concerning this matter. Greatness of German music is easy to understand if we refer to the philosophical thought of Friedrich Nietzsche. In his book titled The Birth of Tragedy, Out of the Spirit of Music he called the music from Bach to Beethoven, from Beethoven to Wagner a "mighty course of the Sun". Outstanding stage creations of Maestra Christa Ludwig in Wagner's musical dramas show the greatness of this music. Nietzsche thinks that Wagner "philosophizes with the sound", presenting what cannot be described with words. For Nietzsche, "philosophizing with sounds" is a criterion to single out the most valuable music. He regarded Tristan and Isolde as the ultimate metaphysical achievement of music. And it is the beauty of Christa Ludwig's voice that uncovers the depth of musical meanings. Nietzsche was also an admirer of Chopin's music for its perfection and formal finesse. Chopin fascinated Nietzsche for one more reason. We can read about it in Ecce Homo: "I am still always too Polish myself not to give all the rest of music for Chopin". By elevating music to the top of arts Nietzsche was guided by nothing else than its metaphysical power. Music, equipped with such attributes, stands next to the listener's ego and it builds friendship between beauty and the audience by connecting them with its beauty. Vocal art of Christa Ludwig follows this very path. It puts the great works next to the listeners' ego. Her interpretations became unparalleled artistic models because they reach the crux of art. This interpretative rule covers not only the "mighty course of the Sun" of German music together with the works by Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss, but also the German singing repertoire, opera and oratorio repertoire, as well as contemporary music. In those areas of music Christa Ludwig is one of the most outstanding performers. Hence our gratitude and great respect for Her art. Hence her presence in the circle of the Honorary Doctors of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. |
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Compiled by: The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music