Richard Wagner

Many descriptions of Wagner are quite unflattering. There are many reports of his extreme anti-Semitism, massive egomania, gambling and womanizing, and his ruthless exploitation of anyone in order to achieve his ambitions (http://www.mfiles.co.uk/Composers/Richard Wagner.htm). In fact, Wagner operas were a huge part in the Nazi movement. Hitler revered Wagner as a genius and received some of his theories from him. But, put all these traits aside, there was …

…that of no other composer. Wagner's works are hated as much as they are worshiped in the world, even today. His music is only now resurfacing from a political setback, having been the music most strongly supported by and endorsed personally by Adolf Hitler. As a man, Wagner was prepared to sacrifice his family and friends in the cause of his own music. But as a composer alone, he was a man of great genius.