Wagnerism

Alex Ross, the acclaimed music critic and author, delves into the monumental cultural phenomenon of "Wagnerism," exploring how Richard Wagner's artistic legacy became a crucible for modern art and politics. This expansive work traces Wagner's colossal influence, from the turn of the 20th century when his operas like "The Ring" and "Tristan und Isolde" inspired a vast array of artists—from Virginia Woolf and Thomas Mann to anarchists, feminists, and gay-rights pioneers—who found in his daring forms and mythic narratives a powerful resonance. However, the book also confronts the tragic and darker side of this legacy: Wagner's virulent antisemitism, which was later tragically co-opted by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime, irrevocably staining his name. Ross skillfully navigates this complex terrain, restoring the magnificent confusion of what it means to be a Wagnerian. He illustrates how Wagner's motifs continue to permeate contemporary culture, from superhero films to fantasy fiction, urging readers toward a more honest understanding of art's profound and often contradictory impact on the world, without offering either an apologia or outright condemnation.