[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Wagner was a huge anti-semite and not surprisingly Hitler's favorite composer. The overture to Rienzi in fact became the defacto theme of Hilter's Nazi party rallies. When I play Rienzi at home I can't help imagining goose stepping soldiers, convoys of tanks, long red flags hanging down from building roofs, and Hitler standing there taking it all in. Very powerful music.

[Cyclopean Squid]

Der Fuhrer also really liked Anton Bruckner, who like Hitler hailed from the Linz area and who worshipped Wagner.

[ichabod1]

My opera buddy has a recording of a special performance of the Ring performed before a select crowd of SS officers that had caught Hitler’s favor. It’s chilling.

[justshutupandtakeit]

It was after hearing Rienzi as a youth that Hitler became inspired towards a goal of world conquest. His friend described him as being in a state of ecstaty afterwards.