Philip Hensher

Why do we pounce on Wagner’s anti-Semitism, and ignore that of the Russian composers?

Stephen Walsh's Mussorgsky and His Circle takes a look at the passionate, patriotic musicians of 19th century Russia

Portrait of Modest Musorgsky by Ilya Yefimovich Repin. Credit: Getty Images 
issue 09 November 2013

Before ‘nationalism’ became a dirty word, it was the inspiration for all sorts of idealistic and reform-minded people. This was never more true than in the history of music. Clearly, subsequent events have discredited some of those 19th-century ideals. It is striking, however, that we have become uncomfortable with Wagner’s German nationalism while continuing to regard Smetana’s Czech nationalism as an admirable, even inspiring quality.

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