The decision for the Israel Chamber Orchestra to play Wagner in Bayreuth was met with fierce protests from Holocaust survivors in Israel, where Wagner's music has been taboo for decades.
Album & Artwork
The album's program intentionally connects works by composers with Jewish roots (Avni, Mahler, Mendelssohn) with those closely associated with Bayreuth (Liszt, Wagner), aiming for reconciliation.
Composition History
Wagner's 'Siegfried-Idyll' was a private declaration of love and a birthday surprise for his wife Cosima, first performed in their staircase on Christmas morning.
Interpretation
Out of respect for Holocaust survivors, the Israel Chamber Orchestra rehearsed Wagner's music only after arriving in Bayreuth, not on Israeli soil.
Performer Biography
Roberto Paternostro, the Music Director of the Israel Chamber Orchestra, is a descendant of a Jewish family and an admirer of Wagner, who initiated this historic concert.
Notable Performances
This album documents a historic concert on July 26, 2011, where the Israel Chamber Orchestra became the first Israeli orchestra to play a work by Richard Wagner in Bayreuth.
Historical Context
The concert included the Israeli national anthem, Hatikva, which was also played for the first time in Bayreuth.
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