Twilight of the Wagners: The Unveiling of a Family's Legacy

I can understand why some people loathe both this book and the author, especially if they're real Wagner addicts. If you read this with a strong prejudice in favour of Wagner or at least his music, this has a reasonably good chance of upsetting you. For example, Mr. Gottfried Wagner's insisting that Israelis need to have very broad agreement before his great-grandfather's music can be properly played there comes close to a denial of a democratic society's freedom of choice. Much as I fully empathise with the Jews and other peoples who suffered such horrific atrocities as they did under Hitler, who most certainly did use Richard Wagner's music - and far more his outrageously anti-Semitic writings - for his ends (he - Hitler - did the same with Beethoven's music as well as - to a lesser extent - that of Bruckner, but otherwise preferred Johann Strauß and Lehár...), it's wrong to consider Wagner as fully-responsible for Auschwitz-Birkenau or Treblinka on anywhere near the same scale as Hitler. In fact, Wagner was not the actual leader of Teutonic anti-Semitism that he often is made out to be: he was following the lead of not only the historic religiously-based anti-Semitism that has plagued the world over these past two millenia (on account of the Sanhedrin murdering Jesus Christ as well as a good number of His Prophets), but also the RACE-based virulence that found its real voice in German and other philosophers like Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, von Schönerer, perhaps Hegel and certainly several others in all events (including Houston Stewart Chamberlain). [Wagner nevertheless belonged to the former group of religiously-related anti-Semites, which is slightly less repugnant on account of that it's possible (at least on the surface) to change one's religion but not his ethnicity.] This latter, more dangerous form of ETHNIC hatred, influenced in at least some part by the theory of evolution as well as the explosion of nationalism overall (linking back to the very idea of some people being better than others in part by "natural-selection" or "manifest destiny" as well as leading to that idea's corollary of imperialism), is one which for the most part was new to this world with the progression of the 19th-century in addition to being a major theme of both then and afterwards. It is this nationalistic, God-denying (at least in the sense of where Man refuses to submit to the idea of anything or anyone higher than Himself!), God-defying spirit that Gottfried Wagner is committed to examining and debunking as the real cause for the dehumanisation of much of the German character and later of much of Mankind overall: it's this dehumanisation which eventually not only led to Hitler on one side but also to the Communists on the other - and thence to many of the woes plaguing Western civilisation nowadays. Nevertheless, bitterness aside (and yes, he has some - not without reason, assuming that he's being fully-honest...), he otherwise seems like one of tho

Dr Wagner's work examines the pulse of lovers of Richard Wagner that still runs deeply thru the veins of Germany. His autobiography, which further examines the shaping events in his life, is also quite remarkable. This is a great book for all who are interested in musicology, Germany, or a good read.

Gotfried Wagner gives us the inside story on the Wagner dynasty. He is certainly an nonconformist Wagner: a supporter of social - democracy and a promoter of German - Jewish understanding who wrote his doctorate on the Jewish composer Kurt Weil. Dr. Wagner tells us what it was like growing up in the strange world of Bayreuth and about the infighting between the heirs to the dynasty.He leaves no doubts as to the historical anti-semitism of the Wagner legacy as well as the war time collabaration with the Nazis (Hitler was endearingly called "Uncle Wolf"). That anti - semitism lives on today. He considers Daniel Birenboim as somewhat of a careerist and a dupe who purposely chooses to ignore the anti - semitism of Bayreuth. Dr. Wagner completely broke with the Wagner heritage and for this he has my admiration. An interesting story but the book cold have been better edited and reduced by say, fifty pages.

I was originally put off by this book because of the bad reviews it received here; but when I saw it in a bookstore, I picked it up and started reading. I didn't want to stop. To me, it was fascinating and I knew without a doubt that I would purchase it.I'm glad I read it, and feel good about recommending it to others.

Unlike the other reviews read here I found this book to be most compelling. The story of a man of a famous family trying to come to terms with himself, his family and society. How difficult it must be for persons born of a family despised by the world, hated for documented emotional outbursts of the most virulent kind. Gottfried Wagner is a man who is trying so hard to find a way to redeem himself in the eyes of society. I for one admire him immensely and found his book to be absolutely fascinating. Reading about the inner story of the Wagner family in the most open way is so revealing of the character of this family. He hides nothing. While I am sure he would never think of himself that way he is a man of the highest level of integrity. I am sure he will find the anwers to his dilemna. If you are a Wagner fan, read it you'll love it.