Wagner and His Music

What it is

This is a critical article written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, in Russian, expressing his views on the German composer Richard Wagner and on the movement of enthusiasm around him known as Wagnerism.

Why it matters

In this piece, Tchaikovsky openly shares his admiration for Wagner's musical imagination and influence while criticizing his approach to opera, arguing Wagner was better suited to writing symphonies. This is valuable because it reveals Tchaikovsky's own artistic values and tastes, directly in his own words, rather than through someone else's interpretation.

Look closer

• What specific criticism does Tchaikovsky make of Wagner's choice to write operas rather than symphonies?
• How does Tchaikovsky balance praise and criticism in his writing?
• What does this article tell you about how composers judged each other during this period?