Israelis Boycott Musicians Too! Wagner Is A Case

Richard Wagner composed some of the finest and most refined music there is to find.  His work is notable for their complex texture, vivid harmonies. His music pulled something so well, the ability to create musical themes associated with individual characters, places, ideas or plot elements.


Yet this Legendary (and controversial) German composer loved himself so much. He let the world knows it too. It would be hard to find some other composer who has displayed a greater egotism and sureness of his own genius than Richard Wagner! "I'm not like other people. 1 have finer nerves - I must have beauty and brilliance and light. The world owes me what 1 need. I can't live on a miserable organist's post, like your master Bach!" Trust me you would too if you were writing both the music and libretto for every one of your stage works like Wagner.

But egotism is not the reason why some people in Israel and many Jews resent the guy and reject his music.

To be clear, Wagner was not a Nazi and he has died long before Nazi take power in Germany, yet his music still unwelcome in Israel. We have called on artists to boycott Israel concerts before, but the Israelis seem to always response, art should not be boycotted. It's true music builds bridges between people, but why do Israelis do not welcome the music of the iconic and genius composer like Wagner? I was reading this article today "What’s Behind Israel’s Unofficial Ban on Wagner?"

Jonathan Livny was so eager to have the music of the late German composer Richard Wagner played in Israel, he dipped into his own pocket to make it happen. A few months ago, he hired 100 of the country’s best musicians, rented a hall at Tel Aviv University, and advertised a concert with ads in the newspaper. Within a week, he says, 600 tickets were sold. Livny is a 64-year-old classical-music buff whose father raised him on the Wagner records he fled Germany with in 1935. He describes the 19th-century musician as one of the most important composers in history. But Wagner was also a raging anti-Semite, and though he died long before the rise of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler made him an icon of the Third Reich, the regime that killed 6 million Jews. Days before the concert was to take place earlier this month, Tel Aviv University informed Livny he could no longer use the venue. A Tel Aviv hotel agreed to host the event instead but backed out as well.

Here's the truth, Richard Wagner lived decades before the birth of Nazism, yet his influence on the National Socialist movement and its its leader was gigantic. Wagner did not seem to like Jewish music and spoke ill about many of the composers. The Jewish composer, according to Wagner, makes a confused heap of the forms and styles of all ages and masters. I can understand the boycott for Wagner and his music in Israel, it remains a sensitive subject in this tiny nation. On the other hand will Israelis now understand the plight of Palestinians who call for a cultural boycott.