Posted on 05/24/2013 6:50:41 AM PDT by Borges
Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner wrote some of the most famous music of all time. They became icons of their nations during turbulent eras: Verdi for Italy and Wagner for Germany. Their music still moves us, and their operas still play to packed houses around the world.
But, in many ways, the two composers were fundamentally opposites, and on the occasion of their Bicentennial year, WQXR presents a one-hour program exploring these crucial differences. We learn how these two men of music, both born in the same year, but flowering in completely different directions, ultimately empowered both the greatest and the worst sides of humanity.
Host Jeff Spurgeon and producer Aaron Cohen speak with a collection of scholars to illuminate the essential differences between these two titans of 19th century opera.
Classical Ping
Give me Wagner every time. Verdi...ehh.
Well, since you mention it, Wagner would have been the pitcher and Verdi the catcher. That said, Verdi’s SANCTUS from the Requiem is pretty Wagnerian. And we can never forget the day Giuseppe asked: “do you spell your name with a V, Mr. Wagner?”
Verdi and Wagner never met.
Its not Wagner its Vogner(src). I like the new upgrade for
classical music. Neo classical. Like Tony MacAlpitne and
Gentaro. Actually Bethoven, Chopin and some of Mozart,
was just Heavy Metal before it’s time.
Nothing like Moonlight Sonata played twice as fast through
a Marshall. But there is nothing like listening to the
original classical (old fuddy duddy stuff) when your doing
something tedious and frustrating, like guilding gold lief. Thanks for the link.
I love ‘em both, but for different reasons.
I want “Verdi’s Requiem” at my funeral, but heck, I’ll settle for Der Gotterdammerung!”
(I don’t ask for much!)
Who was Verdi?
Oh, yeah, him.
Anyone who thinks they might not like Wagner might have their mind nudged a bit in the right direction by watching Wagner’s Dream, about the conception and creation of the spectacular staging of the Ring by the Met a few years ago. If your mind is then transformed into fertile soil, watch the entire DVD set of that magnificent production (don’t forget the subtitles!).
I’ll resist the long parade of superlatives I could add here about it: just watch it, and your eyes, ears and mind will be opened.
Is that the Ring with "the machine"? I still have not seen that version. I liked the Chereau Bayreuth version from the mid 70's and the Met version from the 80's. Most other productions look like the the typical Eurotrash we get nowadays. Here in the Houston they are going to present Das Rheingold for the first time. Looks like it's going to be the Valencia Cirque des Soileil style staging.
‘Rockaria’ ELO
She’s sweet on Wagner
I think she’d die for Beethoven
She loves the way Puccini lays down a tune
And Verdi’s always creeping from her room.
Classical chicks rock!
Verdi’s operas have the best musical characterization of any others except those of Mozart.
I worked my Met dvds hard for a while. My kids referred to Das Rheingold as the 'screeching underwater fairies'.
For operas to enjoy — Puccini and Mozart!
Verdi isn’t enjoyable?
Not saying that.
Just expressing my pedestrian personal preferences.
Wagner is fine. After all, he did invent the theme song. But Verdi’s music shakes the soul to its very foundations.
“Is that the Ring with “the machine”?”
Yes, it is.
There are elements of German, French, and Russian opera which I enjoy listening to. Italian opera has always left me totally cold.
Everyone else was imitating the Italians. Do you mean opera in Italian in general? As in the Mozart operas in Italian?
I don’t have any real use for Mozart’s operas either...
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