Israeli Orchestra Renews Wagner Ban

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has decided it will not under any circumstances play Richard Wagner’s music, which still haunts survivors of the Nazi Holocaust, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. “The operative decision is that it will not be played,” said spokeswoman Tali Yaron.

The decision to continue a 54-year ban on the music was made after a survey of subscribers showed that 30% opposed hearing it, she said.

The orchestra’s public council began the survey last December after conductor Daniel Barenboim said that Wagner’s works, Adolf Hitler’s favorites, were too important to ignore.