A planned performance of the music of Richard Wagner in Israel has
been abruptly canceled following an apparent disagreement between the
presenter and Tel Aviv University. The University pulled the plug on
the performance, contending the Israel Wagner Society concealed the
fact it would have featured the music of Wagner and that people have
expressed anger over the planned performance. The June 18 event was
supposed to have been an academic symposium at Tel Aviv University
devoted to Wagner, conductor Arturo Toscanini and Theodor Herzl.
Wagner has long been considered taboo in Israel because of the
composer's anti-Semitic personal views. Wagner was also one of the
favorite composers of Hitler.
