Antisemitic Tirades Against Jews In Richard Wagner’s Music

Richard Wagner, a German conductor and composer from the 1800s, was an important figure in music. His orchestras were well-known. In the early years of his career, he never had any controversy about his music. In the 1850s however, his popularity increased and so did antisemitism. No matter if his success was directly connected to his words against Jews, it’s clear that his antisemitism contributed to his success. In fact, he became one of Hitler’s favourite composers.

In his writings like “Das Judenthum in der Musik”, you can see how his career influenced him. He believed that Jewish music makers who had achieved success were responsible for the struggles he faced in the music industry, as well as for the downfall of many German forms of art. He was very critical of many Jews, including those who had helped him with his career. Wagner has managed to lead a normal life, with Jewish colleagues and even friends. Wagner’s work was banned outright in Israel despite its controversy. The ban was also a catalyst for many people to talk about his ideas and examine his work for antisemitism.

Wagner’s work does not always contain antisemitic themes or lyrics. The music of Wagner was not bad, but his creator was. People are not always in agreement about how to handle his work. There are protests in Israel and ongoing debates to prevent the music from being played. Many people argue that censorship in general is wrong. However, others believe that Israel’s ban on Wagner’s work is the best way to honor those affected by anti-Semitism. It may seem more reasonable to consider the Holocaust survivors who may have been forced to listen his music in concentration camps. Even though the music has different meanings for each person, they all have a similar connotation. Many people are afraid to play it because of the horrible messages and memories that come with the music.

Wagner’s ideas and works are a source of much debate. Discussions of Wagner’s messages and work are viewed as revisionist and racist by some. Others, however, believe it’s better to discuss the subject than to ban it. Wagner, and his works, have left a racist legacy. They were vilified and have been the subject of debates and censorships in Israel for years.

Works Cited

Mourby, A. On July 21 of 2000. Can we forgive Him? Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/friday_review/story/0,3605,345459,00.html.

Richard Wagner. August 13th, 2019 Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/musician/richard-wagner.

Ross, A. (2017, June 19). The Case for Wagner’s Israel. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-case-for-wagner-in-israel.

Shields N. (2015). Wagner and The Jews. Retrieved from https://mosaicmagazine.com/essay/uncategorized/2015/01/wagner-and-the-jews/.