Mozart or Beethoven ?

[Charles]

Whom do you consider the greatest composer and why?

[ladybird]

I can tell that they were always equal for me, as they are my favourite composers. But recently at onyxclassics site I found a new performance of Beethoven’s music by Maxim Rysanov, Kristina Blaumane and Jacob Katsnelson. After that I had to review my opinion about both of them in Beethoven’s favor.

[Annife]

This is such a difficult question. For me is Mozart, because it feel more natural to listen. But if some will told me thet Beethoven is better I would agreed with him.

Just my humble opinion.

[Charles]

Beethoven's passion shines forth in his music, always the best.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Of the composers of all time, I consider Bach to be the greatest for the simple reason that he began the artistic traditions every composer after him wrote and now write by. Of the two mentioned here, though... hm... I personally have a better liking for Mozart, particularly for his operas, of which "Cosi Fan Tutte" was the most graceful and Dove chocolaty sweet, and "Die Zauberflotte" the cleverest. His symphonies and concerti have a rhythm and activity that point to some of the mainstream music of today, a little genius mixed in. His "Requiem" is perhaps the masterpiece of all works in its form and "Le Nozze di Figaro" is considered by more than a few to be the greatest opera ever composed, one which even I, a pyromaniac, a lover of black drama and passionate beauty, have to rate with the best of verismo and Verdi. Yes, Beethoven wrote an opera, "Fidelio," which contains some good stuff, but every time I listen to anything vocal written by Mozart, I'm spellbound. "Ode to Joy" was a fine piece and all, but Mozart was a showman, a magician with a pen, who always managed a nice surprise somewhere in his works, whether it be the sound of a glockenspiel that seems to come out of nowhere and charm without effort or a mesmerizing sequence of coloratura where no other composer in his right mind would have put it. Sopranos soaring and spinning, the orchestra dancing the waltz of a wild nymph and ballet in turn: everything a lover of magnificent music could want was all in the mind of a little man with style, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Heck, even the great fantasist E.T.A. Hoffmann added the guy's middle name to his own, and Tchaikovsky called him his "musical god." Sure there'd be no Berlioz, Liszt, or Wagner without Beethoven, but there would be no bel canto without Mozart, and without bel canto there'd be no Verdi, and without these there would be no Callas or Tebaldi! The world of music would be in ruins! Oh, too far?

Anyway, mine is just another opinion in the tempest. For those of you who can tolerate him enough to think him great, I tip my hat to Beethoven, but for my own, I am Mozart's man!

-- 15 Dec 2013, 01:19 --

Of the composers of all time, I consider Bach to be the greatest for the simple reason that he began the artistic traditions every composer after him wrote and now write by. Of the two mentioned here, though... hm... I personally have a better liking for Mozart, particularly for his operas, of which "Cosi Fan Tutte" was the most graceful and Dove chocolaty sweet, and "Die Zauberflotte" the cleverest. His symphonies and concerti have a rhythm and activity that point to some of the mainstream music of today, a little genius mixed in. His "Requiem" is perhaps the masterpiece of all works in its form and "Le Nozze di Figaro" is considered by more than a few to be the greatest opera ever composed, one which even I, a pyromaniac, a lover of black drama and passionate beauty, have to rate with the best of verismo and Verdi. Yes, Beethoven wrote an opera, "Fidelio," which contains some good stuff, but every time I listen to anything vocal written by Mozart, I'm spellbound. "Ode to Joy" was a fine piece and all, but Mozart was a showman, a magician with a pen, who always managed a nice surprise somewhere in his works, whether it be the sound of a glockenspiel that seems to come out of nowhere and charm without effort or a mesmerizing sequence of coloratura where no other composer in his right mind would have put it. Sopranos soaring and spinning, the orchestra dancing the waltz of a wild nymph and ballet in turn: everything a lover of magnificent music could want was all in the mind of a little man with style, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Heck, even the great fantasist E.T.A. Hoffmann added the guy's middle name to his own, and Tchaikovsky called him his "musical god." Sure there'd be no Berlioz, Liszt, or Wagner without Beethoven, but there would be no bel canto without Mozart, and without bel canto there'd be no Verdi, and without these there would be no Callas or Tebaldi! The world of music would be in ruins! Oh, too far?

Anyway, mine is just another opinion in the tempest. For those of you who can tolerate him enough to think him great, I tip my hat to Beethoven, but for my own, I am Mozart's man!

-- 15 Dec 2013, 01:20 --

Of the composers of all time, I consider Bach to be the greatest for the simple reason that he began the artistic traditions every composer after him wrote and now write by. Of the two mentioned here, though... hm... I personally have a better liking for Mozart, particularly for his operas, of which "Cosi Fan Tutte" was the most graceful and Dove chocolaty sweet, and "Die Zauberflotte" the cleverest. His symphonies and concerti have a rhythm and activity that point to some of the mainstream music of today, a little genius mixed in. His "Requiem" is perhaps the masterpiece of all works in its form and "Le Nozze di Figaro" is considered by more than a few to be the greatest opera ever composed, one which even I, a pyromaniac, a lover of black drama and passionate beauty, have to rate with the best of verismo and Verdi. Yes, Beethoven wrote an opera, "Fidelio," which contains some good stuff, but every time I listen to anything vocal written by Mozart, I'm spellbound. "Ode to Joy" was a fine piece and all, but Mozart was a showman, a magician with a pen, who always managed a nice surprise somewhere in his works, whether it be the sound of a glockenspiel that seems to come out of nowhere and charm without effort or a mesmerizing sequence of coloratura where no other composer in his right mind would have put it. Sopranos soaring and spinning, the orchestra dancing the waltz of a wild nymph and ballet in turn: everything a lover of magnificent music could want was all in the mind of a little man with style, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Heck, even the great fantasist E.T.A. Hoffmann added the guy's middle name to his own, and Tchaikovsky called him his "musical god." Sure there'd be no Berlioz, Liszt, or Wagner without Beethoven, but there would be no bel canto without Mozart, and without bel canto there'd be no Verdi, and without these there would be no Callas or Tebaldi! The world of music would be in ruins! Oh, too far?

Anyway, mine is just another opinion in the tempest. For those of you who can tolerate him enough to think him great, I tip my hat to Beethoven, but for my own, I am Mozart's man!

-- 15 Dec 2013, 01:21 --

I'm sorry about the post in triplicate... Does anyone else ever have a problem with the "Submit" button???

[d0dridge]

Given the context of your arguments I think 'Ode to Joy' is a poor example to choose.

"but Mozart was a showman, a magician with a pen, who always managed a nice surprise somewhere in his works"

Are you saying Beethoven doesn't have nice surprises?
Are you focusing on Mozart as showman rather than artist?

I agree Bach is pretty awesome!

[Charles]

I confess, I do prefer Mozart's opera's over Beethoven, especially Die Zauberflöte, I first heard it in college, and have been a huge fan ever since.

[Nathrad Sheare]

The work I like of Beethoven's is composed for the piano... Honestly, his sonatas are about the only things I've heard of his... and I used to have fifteen CDs of his music... that really had any bite for me... Perhaps another reason for my preference is that our Amadeus was more... otherworldly? He made music that lends grace and beauty to life, a kind I can enjoy for hours. His style was a refined version of that which was popular in his day and it added some extra spice. For the dramatics, I prefer Dvorak and Tchaikovsky as symphonists and the great artists of bel canto, Donizetti and Bellini, and the most fascinating opera composer of all, Verdi, in the opera department. Indeed, Beethoven pushed the rules of his day with his emotional swings, but I think that it was the artists he inspired who perfected his style, the same as Bartok, Puccini, and Richard Strauss perfected Wagner's. Mozart's music, to me, never sounds dry or like band music... Beethoven's, on the other hand... But, as I said, mine is just another opinion in the tempest...

-- 18 Dec 2013, 20:51 --

I love Die Zauberflote. the best one in the role of the Queen of the Night on video is Diana Damrau. The best one on recording is June Anderson. Tried 'em?

-- 18 Dec 2013, 23:05 --

I'm glad that there is so much music in the world to choose from. I don't believe that anyone's opinion of certain music makes it necessarily bad. I'm not sure as to why some strikes us just right and some doesn't. I guess music, itself, is a phenomenon, though, after all... As is every work of any art that sweeps nations.

-- 18 Dec 2013, 23:05 --

I'm glad that there is so much music in the world to choose from. I don't believe that anyone's opinion of certain music makes it necessarily bad. I'm not sure as to why some strikes us just right and some doesn't. I guess music, itself, is a phenomenon, though, after all... As is every work of any art that sweeps nations.

[Madcap Syzygii]

I personally prefer Mozart. I began listening to Classical music with Beethoven, and he was wonderful! His ninth symphony and piano concertos were terrific, and still are. I just got burnt out of him with everyone using his works for commercials and such. So degrading...but I love Mozart's Opera's! I can't get enough of his Die Zauberflote! (The Magic Flute) The Queen of the Nights Aria's are my favorites! Papageno's parts are amazing too! I may be a little corny, but that's the way it is for me. In the words of my brother, "It's a Masterpiece!"

[Charles]

I've heard Diana Damrau, she is terrific, but i haven't heard June Anderson yet. Chopin's raindrops, Prelude, Op. 28, No. 15,is one of my favorites, but the Queen of the Nights Aria, when it reaches high F6, it's legendary.

[Nathrad Sheare]

Tell me about it! Oh, and I've listened to the "Raindrops" prelude of Chopin more times than I can count. I love that piece! Heard much of Rachmaninov? My favorite composer of all time, though Liszt is the greatest genius when it comes to the piano. His "Un Sospiro" is SOOOOOO beautiful! I also love Chopin's scherzos and his funeral sonata. He wasn't the lightweight he was often made out to be, was he?

-- 20 Dec 2013, 02:32 --

You write like an opera buff... Are you?

[Charles]

I found out, that I am a huge opera fan. I first heard Pavarotti sing Pagliacci, and I was hooked. I liked the way he sand Caruso, haven't heard anyone close to him. Thank the good lord for YouTube, I find more and more performances that are wonderful. I've listened to Rachmaninov, even looked at the sheet music, just mind-blowing performances. but back to Beethoven, his Moonlight Sonata, is perfect, just listen and let go.

[Nathrad Sheare]

You HAVE to hear Moura Lympany play "The Moonlight Sonata." Have you? She's one of the most amazing interpreters when it comes to any slow, dreamy, and gorgeous piece out there. She's the best at Rachmaninov's Prelude in C and does a GREAT job at Beethoven's "Appassionata," sonata, too... and "Fur Elise." She's just great... just great... I have a forum here, called "Gab on Great Music," if you want to discuss ANYTHING classical, be it opera, movie scores, symphonies, any composer you want, oh, and opera. Did I say opera? We can discuss that, too.

[Craigable]

I'm not a fan of composers who write a lot of harpsichord music. It sounds a wee bit too precious to me. Not the composer's fault, of course, but I find it a discouragement when listening to Mozart and others. I prefer instrumentation with a little more oomph.

[Nathrad Sheare]

It is true that Mozart is more witty than he is fiery for the most part. Then, we have to consider that he didn't come from the era wherein a composer could create fireworks without the fear of being blown away by critics... Whaddaya do?