When someone says "Wagner" I always think "What wonderfully enjoyable music!" I don't give a stuff about his librettos, stage direction, anti-Semitism etc. Ignorance is bliss.

Just want to ask you SJ, what exactly is it about Wagner's music that you don't like? Not associating it with anything else, but the pure music that he wrote.

 

Me too, that applies to every composer, expect if there are interesting things about his personality&life but that is just "extra".

 

I haven't had the desire to listen to/watch Wagner in quite some time. That is literally all I can think of to say on the matter right now.

 

Wagner is lovely

 

Really? I think he's hot.

 

I find Wagner's music annoying, because pieces of it several seconds long can be interesting, amidst the dross.

 

Just repeating the tired cliches... like the one about all of Vivaldi's works sounding the same.

I have absolutely no problem separating artists from their works; my negative reaction is entirely towards Wagner's terrible music.

So it's not antisemitism, but rather a hearing problem?

 

Me, positive with regards to Wagner's music.

Negative reactions with respect to Wagner's music are much like the negative reactions here at TC, largely based on Wagner's anti-semitism, which I dismiss as failure to separate the music from its artist.

 

...
Negative reactions with respect to Wagner's music are much like the negative reactions here at TC, largely based on Wagner's anti-semitism, which I dismiss as failure to separate the music from its artist.

Just repeating the tired cliches... like the one about all of Vivaldi's works sounding the same.

So it's not antisemitism, but rather a hearing problem?

Thanks for your input but please talk more about your own experiences rather than judge others. I am only doing this because moderation on this forum seems to give 'carte blanche' to some of our members. They should do the job of moderating, but maybe that's a theoretical ideal and not a practical reality.

But anyway, as I said, the deal is no sour grapes from me if my theory goes down the drain, and no gloating (schadenfreude?) from people who 'win.' No throwing things on others faces. If I get egg on my face, I will admit it.

My participation on this thread will be minimal. People know my opinions anyway.

 

I have absolutely no problem separating artists from their works; my negative reaction is entirely towards Wagner's terrible music.

 

I have absolutely no problem separating artists from their works; ...

That's good.

 

The first thought, whenever I hear someone mention Wagner is "Uh oh..."

 

Horns and wings. :devil: :angel:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2189/did-vikings-really-wear-horns-on-their-helmets

 

What do you feel when someone says 'Wagner'?

Sexual rapture.

 

:lol::lol:

 

An unpleasant individual but a musical genius, who, unfortunately, mostly wrote stage music.

 

I have neutral feelings when I think of his music, as I always experience in regard with music I don't like. However, when it comes to Wagner, the man, I have negative feelings. But his music just leaves me cold, it's just too hysterical for me. Sorry for the word

 

I feel like part of superior race when I hear 'Wagner' :lol:

Actually, I do have positive feeling.
This is one of the most beautiful music pieces ever IMO:

 

If they say "Wagner" and they pronounce the wag to sound like bag and use the 'w' instead of the 'v', I think of Robert and smile. If they use the German pronunciation, I think of Richard and smile.

 

I think of how much listening I still have to do and the creator of the most awe inspiring operas ever created. The depth of Wagner's ideas and the wonderful music, not to mention writing his own libretti, should never be understated. If people can't deal with the length, then that is unfortunate for them. Some people just don't dig opera as a genre, and that is fair enough.

 

When I first started listening to classical music several years ago I found Wagner's style too heavy for my tastes. Then I began to change my mind once I discovered how well regarded his music is. After a brief "love-in" period I've now reverted to a position of neutrality where he is not among my top favorite composers but I still rate his abilities highly. His bad non-musical reputation doesn't affect my judjement of his music.

 

According to Woody Allen, the problem with Wagner's music is that it"makes you want to go out and invade Poland ".











:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

According to Woody Allen, the problem with Wagner's music is that it"makes you want to go out and invade Poland ".

Speaking of Woody Allen, I can enjoy his films despite his rather abnormal relationship with his Soon-Yi Previn. Well, it's no different to enjoying Brhams' music despite his abnormal relationship with Clara Schumann.

 

I have no love for Wagner but I don't hate him either. So naturally I have to vote neutral. I think his operas are way too long and melodramatic operatic schmaltz but I do really like the orchestral extracts. I'll never understand his cultlike appeal but to each his own I always say.

Kevin

 

My gut reaction when someone says "Wagner" is this: "You probably don't understand anything about Wagner, so why don't you just stop it right there and let ME talk about Wagner to YOU"

 

Results indicate 3 to 1 so far.

 

Okay, my 'theory' or premise that Wagner is a 'love him or hate him' type composer does not apply to members of this forum.

I don't know what these results prove (if anything), other than maybe he's considered by our members to be the same as any big name composer - he largely gets a positive reaction. Same as the three B's would get in a similar poll, or Mozart, Handel, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, and so on. Perhaps with those composers, they'd get even more of a positive reaction.

I am glad that most people on this thread have been above board and just said what they think. What's their natural reaction. To those who want to throw things in people's faces, do the sour grapes thing, score points, and gloat (schadenfreude) then maybe think twice about doing it. In any case, I am now not stooping to that low level, which is similar to who certain dictatorships worked to divide and conquer, subdue people and take away any sense of solidarity, respect or dignity.

Ok another 'covering my backside' speech done and dusted.

 

I would have to say positive, but very slight positive. I use to like Wagner more, but I got tired of him. I get into him once in a while, especially if I hear something new, or something I haven't heard in a long time.

 

Have you heard Wagner's Das Liebesmahl der Apostel? This one was a piece I didn't know existed until recently, and now I'm very much into it. With luck, it just might rekindle your interest!

 

What kind of question is this? What should I feel at the names of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert (by the way, all of them had their personal "controversies")? Should I have any "gut feeling" about them or Wagner? They were the greatest composers of all times and I don't have to "feel" anything about that. I just enjoy and cherish the process of comprehending that every time I may hear (or not) their names and, most importantly, their music!

Principe

 

What kind of question is this? What should I feel at the names of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert (by the way, all of them had their personal "controversies")? Should I have any "gut feeling" about them or Wagner? They were the greatest composers of all times and I don't have to "feel" anything about that. I just enjoy and cherish the process of comprehending that every time I may hear (or not) their names and, most importantly, their music!
Principe

Spot on. 2013 is Wagner's (born 1813), Verdi's (born 1813) and Britten's (born 1913) year of celebration.

 

Wagner's not often played here, due to the large forces and venue required. Long rehearsals, complexity of his music, all that. So 'The Ring' in Melbourne is a thing that doesn't come along often. But Verdi always gets produced here. & re Britten, I know the Sydney Symphony will do a series of his pieces throughout 2013, a bit like the Mahler cycle of 2011-12. Not as much, I'm guessing. Among some segments of the SSO's audience, Britten is beyond their comfort zones.

 

Positive feeling towards Wagner's music (but I wouldn't call it love). And often negative feelings towards people mentioning him when they actually want to talk about Wagner the person and not about his music.

 

Negative feeling .