I think this poll was not been proposed before, I have used the Search facility to check and only found a partial poll about Belcanto composers. If I'm wrong, please merge or delete the poll, as appropriate.
I've selected the most recognizable names, to me, but feel free to use the 'Other' option, I will collect all votes, and publish a final result including all names mentioned.
About mine, it's a close call between Bellini, Verdi and Berg... I'll go with Bellini this time.
It's too tough for me - I won't vote. I was attracted to vote for either Bellini or Wagner the most. But I can't take Bellini for my favourite if he didn't write Tristan. And I can't choose Wagner if he didn't write Norma. It's least answerable TC poll for me among all that I can think of.
Between Wagner, Mozart, Verdi, and Handel, I just can't pick just one.
I'm inclined to refrain from voting.
Being back from the spectacular Siegfried from Met in HD I'd bee too inclined to pick Wagner.
But any other day the other three give me as much pleasure.
It's impossible. I won't vote.
(PS - Berlioz for me is a close fifth, and then Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini, and R. Strauss are also tough competition).
The age old best vs. favorite question For best I'd put Wagner and Mozart tied for first. For favorite I'd put Mozart and Donizetti tied for first. So I guess Mozart takes it since he ties for tops in both categories.
As much as I appreciate the humor in your contributions about how Wagner is above everybody else (I do, I'm not being sarcastic), I think there are a fair number of operas out there just as good as Wagner's, and those do not have sing-along and dancing.
Verdi's Otello and Falstaff are examples. Operas like Pelléas et Mélisande and Peter Grimes are also no small potatoes in the matter of musical drama without sing-along and dancing. Operas like Lulu and Wozzeck also qualify for this intensity. Richard Strauss has composed his share of striking works like Salome and Elektra. Then, if you look in the opposite direction, one can't miss the beauty and solemnity of Monteverdi's operas.
Sure, as much as I like him (and I crazily do), it is hard to place a Rossini ahead of a Wagner - although some of Rossini's dramatic works like Ermione are also quite impressive. Some examples of French Grand Opéra do pale in comparison to Wagner's musical dramas (Meyerbeer comes to mind).
But to consider that all of opera can't hold a candle to Wagner's dozen performed operas is a bit much, and I say so while placing a good number of his operas among my top favorites - including my number 1.
The opera corps out there has literally dozens and dozens of worthy operas that can't be reduced to dancing sing-along, composed both before and after the Wagner era.
But as a figurative expression of the green creature's tastes, I enjoy what you say.:tiphat:
I like or even love a number on the list (mostly the Italians & French - I'd add Berlioz & maybe Gounod as well?) but I chose "other" for Berg's Wozzeck, which moves me and engages me on many levels, too much to speak of. I immediately "clicked" with it in my teens, without hearing much "atonal" type music at all at that stage. & even though I largely dislike Wagner in terms of listening to an opera of his in complete form (although I like his orchestral highlights a lot) I must admit that his influence on guys like Berg was phenomenal. So he doesn't get my vote, but in some ways at least, my respect. Keep in mind that I am by no means a big opera fan, it's my least favourite genre, but I got a good deal of exposure to it through my parents...
I love all his operas and for different reasons. Some are poor musically, some are set to stupid libretti but for me they're all beautiful simply because they are Verdi.
I can't explain it properly but I think falling in love with a composer or an opera is like falling in love. You don't choose to do it, it just happens.
I love all his operas and for different reasons. Some are poor musically, some are set to stupid libretti but for me they're all beautiful simply because they are Verdi.
I can't explain it properly but I think falling in love with a composer or an opera is like falling in love. You don't choose to do it, it just happens.
There is a depth and complexity to Verdi's mature masterworks that reveals itself after further exploration, take time to sink in and grow on you over time
As much as I love the operas of Mozart and Verdi, I voted for "other" -- i.e., Beethoven.
Yes, I know he only wrote one opera. But it's my favorite, I-Can't-Live-Without-It opera.
although I cannot possibly choose, I have, in fact voted for Mozart, but that's a slap in the eye for Handel, Verdi, Puccini and Wagner, etc etc. There is no one on that list I don't like a lot. aarggh.
Then a handful of others, including Verdi (particularly later works where he assimilates the Wagnerian influence while making it uniquely his own), Mozart, and increasingly Richard Strauss.
Butbutbutbutbutbut. I have really big problems trying to pick just one. There's Wagner, but there's also Mozart, Händel, Verdi, Rossini, Strauss (I have very recently fallen head-over-heels in love with Elektra) and Britten (the same goes for The Turn of the Screw. Ian Bostridge's prologue is mouthwatering). In the end I chose Wagner.
This morning Wagner was tied for second with Verdi at 3 votes. This afternoon, after I re-open this thread, Wagner now leads Mozart 8-7 and has victoriously strode into a glorious lead.
On another note, I'm thinking about making another account just to vote for poor Handel, who surely deserves as least as many votes as Puccini. I think Alma would approve of this motion, if no one else is to correct this travesty.
OK, I hear you, and since I hold Wagner, Mozart, Verdi, and Handel in pretty much equal esteem, I've voted for Handel so that the poor guy is not left out.
I'm surprised Mozart currently has as much voting for him as Wagner (8 people for each). It seems that the Wagner fans are more vocal here, no pun intended, than the Mozart fans, for whatever reason (probably to do with meglomania?) :lol:
People here are out of touch with reality, not a single vote for Bizet, but his Carmen is the most popular opera of the lot, & of very high quality as well, even Wagner admired it highly, & Mahler liked Bizet in general as well. The opera about the Spanish gypsy factory worker, heart-breaker girl has sold more records than both Wagner and Mozart put together, & also been staged many more times, I'd hazard a guess...
People here are out of touch with reality, not a single vote for Bizet, but his Carmen is the most popular opera of the lot, & of very high quality as well, even Wagner admired it highly, & Mahler liked Bizet in general as well. The opera about the Spanish gypsy match-seller heart-breaker girl has sold more records than both Wagner and Mozart put together, & also been staged many more times, I'd hazard a guess...
...as for Tchaikovsky, some people I've talked to over the years (some fans of opera to varying degrees) think Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin is very boring, probably more in terms of plot than anything, but maybe in terms of drama/action & "exciting" music. What do you all think, is it like what some people say of Ambrose Thomas' Hamlet, which is only noted for the mad scene of Ophelia, the rest said to be boring (I only know the mad scene). Is Tatiana's letter scene the same, the only "good" part of Onegin? Is this why people are avoiding Tchaikovsky here? Thoughts?...
I know many people that qualify as 'opera fans' and the average thinking is very far from considering Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin as any kind of boring.
For sure there are many interesting things in this opera, on top of Tatiana's letter. Just to show you a couple:
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