Historical Study (2024-2026)
Herbert von Karajan (1908–1989) grew up in Austria and began his professional career as a conductor during a time of significant political and social upheaval. In 1929, at the age of 20, he took up his first position as an assistant conductor at the Ulm City Theater. After the National Socialists came to power, Karajan continued his conducting career in Germany and, from 1940, also in Italy, including some performances in neighbouring countries.
The Karajan Institute commissioned German historian Prof. Michael Wolffsohn to produce a rigorously researched study on Herbert von Karajan’s affiliations with National Socialism. It was the first academic investigation of this scope on the topic, with the aim of providing a comprehensive, rigorous, and conclusive assessment. Prof. Wolffsohn conducted the research independently. The results will be published in book form with Herder in February 2026.