special exhibiton

From outright rejection to devoted admiration, Richard Wagner is arguably the most controversial composer of the 19th century.


One important reason for this is his antisemitism. Few aspects of Wagner’s life and work have been studied as extensively as his relationship with Judaism. The special exhibition “Taboo Wagner? Jewish Perspectives” approaches his antisemitism from a different angle: How did Wagner affect Jewish people in his own time, and how does he continue to affect them today? How have Jewish individuals and communities responded to his hostility toward Jews? And does this make his work taboo?


These questions are explored by the Richard Wagner Museum Lucerne and the Richard-Wagner-Stätten-Graupa. The exhibition aims to make Jewish perspectives from nearly 200 years visible while highlighting the complexity and ambivalence of the subject.

About the exhibition