Israeli orchestra to play Wagner in Germany
Hitler's theories of racial purity and exterminating Jews were said to be partly drawn from Richard Wagner's anti-Semitic and fervently nationalistic writings. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has observed an informal ban on the composer's music.
The news that Israel Chamber Orchestra and members of the Israel Symphony Orchestra will play a piece by Wagner at Bayreuth Festival, has aroused the hostility of Israeli politicians. The ensemble have also been threatened with funding cuts.
The heads of the orchestra decided not to rehearse the piece in Israel, out of consideration for the public dispute.
The orchestra, conducted by Roberto Paternostro, will play Siegfried Idyll, a twenty minute long symphonic poem which Wagner composed as a birthday present to his second wife....