RE: Wagner

[Yoel Epstein <yoel...>]

> -----Original Message-----

> Now, you could imagine subscribers
> could have quietly left if they didn´t appreciate
> Wagner. But it became a cause celebre, a matter
> of high principle in this case.
> One of the problems was the dictatorial way
> in which the conductor decided which music
> will live and which shall die. In Israel, at least.

The conductor was not deciding which music will live and which will die.
History has already made that decision.  Regardless of how much we detest
Wagner as a person, his contribution to the development of Western music is
undeniable.  To prevent an entire nation from hearing his music because of
his political views is pretty much akin to the Soviet Union banning the
music of Shostakovitch for his views.

Who is better qualified to decide which music should be played in Israel:
Daniel Barenboim (the conductor) or the Minister of Culture from the Mafdal
Religious Party (who touched off the crisis)?

Yoel Epstein



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