NationStates Jolt Archive

Who do you think is the better composer?

Wagner had a bit more range. Verdi had some nice things, but Wagner broadened out as a composer more.

Wagner FTW.

Verdi. But that's purely personal taste, Wagner's music is just too heavy, I think.

Verdi. But that's purely personal taste, Wagner's music is just too heavy, I think.
I gotta agree. For lack of a better term, Wagner is very...well...German, for better and for worse. I really love some of his pieces (Elsa's Procession), but overall, Verdi takes it for me

Wagner's music is better on the average, and the finale of "Götterdämmerung" always makes me cry. Also Wagner's librettos are way better than Verdi's - think of that horrible "Duncano" (pronounced "doon-kah-noh") in Verdi's "MacBeth", italianisation of "Duncan", oh my - in italian it sounds like "d'un cane", that is, "of a dog".
Anyway, Verdi is surely easier to listen, and also has a very broader variety in his musical spectrum. Forget for a moment "Il Trovatore" and think about the "Messa da Requiem" - that's simply wonderful.

I'd call myself a moderate Wagnerian... and I won't miss "Aida" at La Scala this December. :)

Wagner is great...if you're in the mood to invade Poland.

But personally, I enjoy Verdi more.

Wagner is great...if you're in the mood to invade Poland.

But personally, I enjoy Verdi more.
Now, what's wrong with that, eh?

Anyway, I listen to both, and it really depends on my mood which composer gets a go.

Wagner was far more influential musically, but Verdi probably is appealing to more people as it is generally easier to listen to. So, it would depend on in which sense you mean 'VS'. Even still, who I would prefer to listen to would vary by mood, I don't particularly value one over the other in terms of what I'd listen to, but I would value Wagner over Verdi when it comes to influence and innovation.

Both being played at the same time.

Verdi's operas are easier to listen to but Wagner's are more beautiful. My fav Wagner piece is Isolde's Transformation Liebestod and the overture to Tristan und Isolde.

offinbach, j.donald walters, motzart, betovan, and a very long list of others, for my dreams, beat the hell out of either of them. although come to think of it, verdi means green and green is a color that i like.

(there's also a, believe it or not, classical composer, who is MUCH better known in a more popular contex, yes he actualy did compose in both, though his classical works are largely unknown while his popular compositions were extremely familiar during the 1970s, who'se initials are f.z. i would put him somewhere between those named in the title of this thread and those i've named above)

=^^=
.../\...

Verdi all the way. I have Tristan und Isolde and almost never listen to it.

Verdi all the way. I have Tristan und Isolde and almost never listen to it.
I have only fully listened to it once and it took over 4 hours. I listen to excepts once and a while. That is the prob about Wagner and he was an anti-semite. The only opera of Wagner that is easy to listen to is Der Fliegende Hollander.

I have only fully listened to it once and it took over 4 hours. I listen to excepts once and a while. That is the prob about Wagner and he was an anti-semite. The only opera of Wagner that is easy to listen to is Der Fliegende Hollander.

That's the only Wagner opera I've seen & I hated it. It was so lifeless & tedious.

Wagner all the way. Seriously, it gets the blood pumping so much more. I lobe it.

That's the only Wagner opera I've seen & I hated it. It was so lifeless & tedious.

Tristan und Isolde you mean? Hollander is the only Wagner opera I have seen(on stage) and it is excellent. Very intense music especially the Overture, Senta's Ballad and the Senta-Dutchman duet.

Wagner, definitely

Wagner all the way. Seriously, it gets the blood pumping so much more. I lobe it.

Agreed

I forgot:
If you want your blood pumping like hell, listen to Rossini's ouverture to "Guglielmo Tell" (Wilhelm Tell, the hero of swiss independence).

Wagner all the way. Seriously, it gets the blood pumping so much more. I lobe it.
It's good music to have come out of your radio alarm clock - at least it'll get you up. None of that serene shit.

I haven't heard much Verdi, actually, but I would definitely go for Wagner. He's one of my favorites (though admittedly the anti-Semitism is a problem).

I don't see why a composer's beliefs/actions should have any bearing on whether you enjoy the music or not. Sure, Wagner was anti-semitic to an extent (its likely his views were exaggerated after his death), and his music used unsavourably, but the music itself does not reflect these views. Heck, Britten was a paedophile, would that put you off listening to his music?

I don't see why a composer's beliefs/actions should have any bearing on whether you enjoy the music or not. Sure, Wagner was anti-semitic to an extent (its likely his views were exaggerated after his death), and his music used unsavourably, but the music itself does not reflect these views. Heck, Britten was a paedophile, would that put you off listening to his music?

There's no real evidence Britten was a paedophile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia), He was more likely a chaste pederast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pederasty). He had an active relationship with Peter Pears.

Wagner!

There's no real evidence Britten was a paedophile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia), He was more likely a chaste pederast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pederasty). He had an active relationship with Peter Pears.

Point taken, I was meaning more generally that he had 'unsavoury' views by society's standard, so should that effect how you listen to his music? My answer is no it shouldn't.

Point taken, I was meaning more generally that he had 'unsavoury' views by society's standard, so should that effect how you listen to his music? My answer is no it shouldn't.

Yeah, good music is good music.

Point taken, I was meaning more generally that he had 'unsavoury' views by society's standard, so should that effect how you listen to his music? My answer is no it shouldn't.

Because anti-semitism is considered extremly unsavoury since the holocaust but I agree with you and try to avoid Wagner's views (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner#Antisemitism). Just listen to his music and enjoy.

Peitro Masacagni was a active fascist in Italy but I still love Callevaria Rusticana.

Is it just me or does every music discussion in which Wagner gets involved seem to bring up his politics? I don't mean to absolve Wagner of his authoritarian and racist ways, but it seems to me as odd as bringing up Ford's anti-Semitism in a discussion about cars.

Is it just me or does every music discussion in which Wagner gets involved seem to bring up his politics?

It's a shame that some people focus more on his politics than on his stunning music. I for one don't give a shit about political alignment as long as I can enjoy a good piece of music.

Don't get me wrong I love Wagner's music but i've had a couple of times where I was discussing Wagner and someone brings up his anti-semitism.