Richard Wagner: Great Composer or Controversial Racist?

Introduction

Regarded as one of the most controversial composers of his time, Richard Wagner has attracted both admiration and criticism from various quarters. Those who revere him consider Wagner one of the greatest composers of all time. However, there are those who hold him in low regard given the anti-Semitic and racist content found in many of his works. This paper reviews the existing literature in an attempt to determine whether Wagner was indeed one of the greatest composers of all time or merely a controversial racist, as some claim.

Richard Wagner: A Brief Background

According to Bernstein, "Richard Wagner, born at Leipzig on May 22, 1813, was the ninth child of Friedrich Wagner, a clerk in the local police court" (270). Wagner came from a family that already exhibited dramatic inclinations. Bernstein notes that some of Wagner's siblings were already involved in drama long before Wagner himself began to perform (270). Furthermore, upon the death of his father, Wagner's mother became engaged to a man by the name of Ludwig Geyer, who was known to be "artistically minded" (Bernstein 270). It can therefore be noted that Wagner's entry into the world of composition was largely influenced by individuals close to him during the earlier stages of his life.

Although the composer passed away in 1883, he is still remembered today primarily for his operas, with some of his works still being performed widely. However, regardless of his musical genius, Wagner is regarded in some quarters as a controversial figure for several reasons, a number of which are discussed in detail below.

As Bernstein notes, "Wagner left no stone unturned in the expression of his ideas" (276). This is perhaps the reason why he chose to incorporate his personal views into some of his compositions. The anti-Semitic and racial content of certain compositions infuriated many, with Israel banning the performance of his works for a period of years. However, some of Wagner's ardent supporters fault those who criticize him, noting that most of his sentiments did not differ substantially from those of some of his contemporaries. Mourby reinforces this assertion by quoting a London University lecturer who notes that apart from Wagner, quite a number of other composers — including Mussorgsky and Chopin — also occasionally expressed personal views that were antagonistic toward Jews (n.p). The question that naturally arises, then, is why Wagner is singled out while his contemporaries are not.

The Wagner Controversy

Wagner, according to Music Academy Online, "has attracted more than his share of both fervent admirers and equally passionate detractors" (n.p). This observation captures both the admiration and the criticism the composer attracts in equal measure. According to Mourby, there are those who remember Wagner chiefly for his view that much of what was regarded as faulty in both society and art was initially triggered or brought about by Jews (n.p). Indeed, as Mourby notes, Das Judentum in der Musik ("Judaism in Music"), one of the essays written by the composer, particularly trains its sights on another composer of Jewish descent (n.p). The object of Wagner's criticism in this case was Mendelssohn. In Wagner's opinion, this composer had clearly demonstrated that while a Jew could be endowed with considerable talent, he still came across as being "incapable of supplying the profound, heart-seizing, soul-searching experience we expect from art" (Mourby n.p). This comment can be seen as particularly antagonistic toward those of Jewish descent.

It is also important to note that the impulse to single out Wagner while letting his contemporaries off the hook arises in part from the popularity of his works among the Nazis. According to Music Academy Online, "long after Wagner's death, the Nazis found support for their own beliefs in Wagner's writings…" (n.p). This Nazi association does more harm than good to Wagner's legacy, arguably reinforcing the belief that his works were deliberately laced with anti-Semitic views for a more sinister purpose. It is indeed notable that there are those who are convinced that Adolf Hitler may have been influenced by some of the composer's works. Though such claims have been refuted in some quarters, Nicholson asserts that "the predominant view that emerges is that Hitler's ideology was based largely on the anti-Semitism of the writings and to some extent the artistic works of Richard Wagner…" (6). Although the authenticity of these claims remains largely unverified, the existence of such a view is a significant indicator of how Wagner's works are perceived in certain quarters, particularly regarding their racist and anti-Semitic content. Furthermore, there exists some evidence that Hitler held Wagner in high regard; as Nicholson notes, Hitler did attend quite a number of opera performances (225). For Wagner's musical works to have influenced Hitler's anti-Semitism, they must have been substantially laden with such content.

Conclusion

Apart from being gifted in the art of composition, Wagner also comes across as deeply controversial based on his decision to incorporate anti-Semitic and racial views into his works. This is largely seen as the darker side of this great composer. It therefore follows that even in death, opinion remains divided on whether Wagner was primarily a controversial racist, as has been claimed in some quarters, or first and foremost a great musician. The two facets of his legacy appear to be inseparable, and the debate over how to weigh them continues.