I like You Tube as a media for sharing music, TV programs, topic moments of our life and all our exhibitionism suggests. In particular, thanks to You Tube, I have re-discovered Karl Richter and his great power in conducting and playing Bach’s music. I appreciate Karl Richter because I agree most of his opinions, because he has ideally introduced me to the organ music (it was seeing a his video, when I was only 6, that I decided to study organ) and because his revolutionary interpretation with respect to the romantic tradition has an historical meaning. At least for the latter reason, I think that we all must give respect to him and to his memory.
About a month ago I watched a video posted by a young organist as me about a hypothetic competition/comparison among Karl Richter, Marie Claire Alain and Ton Koopman, all playing the Prelude in A minor BWV 543. Never do this kind of things, please. How can you compare three different eras? It is obvious that each of them is son of his/her age! In any case, many people from the entire world have commented the video. The most of not-Italians and generally also not-organists prefers the Richter’s interpretation, but many young philological organists prefer Koopman’s performance. Right! Anybody has the own preference... as old Latins said de gustibus non est disputandum! BUT!!! An Italian commenter has written some very offensive sentences about Richter’s life. It is typically italian to attack the private or political life when you don’t know how to destroy a rival. I understand the musical and historical reasons and also the simple feelings but not those non-sense offensive sentences.
Going beyond this kind of stupid and without any value reproaches, I think that we need a chairman also on You Tube, who selects the bad or useless comments and drives discussion on musical topics, if the video treats of music. Otherwise, also self-control could be very useful, remember: don’t write about other persons what you would never read about you! And bring respect to older, dead or universally recognized as maestro performers!