Wagner vs Verdi

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/9724252/Wagner-and-Verdis-long-fight-at-the-opera.html?sf7704881=1#disqus_thread

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/9724252/Wagner-and-Verdis-long-fight-at-the-opera.html?sf7704881=1#disqus_thread

Well - for me Wagner is by a long way the greater of the two. Verdi wrote some great tunes and produced some gripping musical drama, but I don't find his operas have the reach, subtlety, musical invention or structural perfection of Wagner.

Still, the article is right to express gladness that we don't have to choose. Verdi's still good, even if I personally find him slightly overrated by his partisans. And I am looking forward to beginning my opera going in the bicentenary year of both composers with Un Ballo in Maschera in Stockholm!

Originally posted by Teinosuke
Well - for me Wagner is by a long way the greater of the two. Verdi wrote some great tunes and produced some gripping musical drama, but I don't find his operas have the reach, subtlety, musical invention or structural perfection of Wagner.

Still, the article is right to express gladness that we don't have to choose. Verdi's still good, even if I person ...[text shortened]... opera going in the bicentenary year of both composers with Un Ballo in Maschera in Stockholm!

Aptly put! Much as I love Verdi, he was no Wagner. Moreover, Wagner was largely self taught whereas Verdi was taken as a student by a locally famous music teacher at Sant'Agnese church at Le Roncole/Busetto where he grew up, and was actually born a French citizen!