Jim Tobin:

>One of the cliches of 19th century musical history is the hostility
>between the Brahmsians and the Wagnerites.  As far as Brahms himself is
>concerned, this is a myth.  He actually regarded Wagner's music highly
>and sent a note of sympathy on the occasion of Wagner's death.  He also
>thought highly of some of Mahler's music, most notably the scherzo of the
>Resurrection symphony.  It was the music of Liszt and Bruckner that Brahms
>couldn't stand.

I think this statement oversimplifies history.  It's true that Brahms
directed his (first?) attack against Liszt, but it was Wagner who stroke
back.....

So the battle was indeed fought between Brahmsians and the Wagnerites (and
some Lisztians too, but not Liszt).

Did Brahms ever state that he liked Wagner's music in public?

Mikael Rasmusson