The Case of Wagner

A fierce, lyrical investigation unfolds, using the towering figure of a 19th‑century composer as a lens through which to examine the health of European culture. The speaker begins by confronting the popular belief that the polemic is merely a personal feud, insisting instead that the critique targets the deeper currents shaping art, morality, and society.

Drawing on his own youthful reverence and later disillusionment, the essay blends passionate rhetoric with sharp philosophical insight. It asks listeners to consider how music can embody prevailing values—and how, when those values decay, the art itself may become a symptom of cultural decline. The piece invites anyone interested in the intersection of aesthetics, philosophy, and history to hear a compelling argument that still resonates today.