Recently the Israeli government "requested" Barenboim to replace a scheduled performance of one of Wagner's works because Wagner was an outspoken anti-semite. (He and his wife Cosima were the "fun couple" of the 19th century. They were massively ungrateful, rude, grasping, self-serving bigots.) However Wagner did write some glorious music. The conductor gave in and programmed some less dangerous music, one supposes.

For some time now there have been critics who argue that an artist should be judged in great part on behavior and ideas held. A kind of "political-correctness" is deemed helpful in evaluating an artist's works and worth.

For the last century or so, one widely held view is that art is something that can only be judged on the merits of the work alone. This view has been called the "New Criticism" and before that, "Art for Art's sake."

Speaking for the first view would be those who might say that Poe, being a drunk is no model for mystery writers; Ezra Pound held some rather interesting political ideas, as did Picasso. One can wonder what the views of Michelangelo, Raphael, Holbein, and Cellini might have been seeing that they worked with great success for some of history's biggest thugs. You probably wouldn't invite Mozart to spend any length of time with your daughter; Nancy Mitford had boundless admiration for that fun head of Germany, Hitler. Seneca was a superb P.R. man for Nero.

The second opinion might argue that although one's knowledge of an artist's background will provide a richer understanding of the artist's work, the work can be viewed, appreciated, and talked of on grounds irrespective of the artist's behavior.

There can be no doubt that both of these views are correct. They certainly bounce back and forth over the cultural net of polite society. The verities of value change nearly as fast as changes in hair styles. Humankind appears to be able to see and take things on different levels of reality all at once. Mitford wrote some engaging and funny books, Mozart some splendid tunes, Raphael painted some wonderful walls. The question remains of how far does society tolerate an artist's character.