Who's the most overrated classical composer, in your opinion?

Question

Which composer makes you scratch your head and go "I can't understand what others see in him!"?

Answer 1

Stravinsky .. his works do come across as a bit abstract to me. You cannot put on his music and say I'm relaxing with a glass of wine.And if you thought you needed something to scare someone.. there you have the best music for your background.

Answer 2

I have to concur with Mr. Tzvi. Bach is a complex composer, and the depth of his work becomes more apparent each time you study to it, listen to it, and perform it. The "Kyrie" from the B Minor Mass, for example... no matter how many times I listen to it, I always find something new.

A couple of names came immediately to mind when I first read the original question. But then I thought: do I really know the whole body of their work well enough to make a judgment like that? Let's take Pachelbel (though he wasn't one of the two I thought of). The poor man is known primarily for one very over-performed work. But he also composed some organ and choral works... and the Pachelbel choral work I vaguely remember from college was a lot of fun.

My husband likes the music of Messiaen, but I've never really connected with it. I certainly don't think Messiaen is over-rated, however; I think the fault lies in my own inability to appreciate his works.

Answer 3

I have to agree with the answer directly above mine. Bach BORING??? Then you just don't appreciate the style. But there are overrated classical composers out there and a couple of above answers arn't bad....Phillip Glass and Pachabel, gotta agree, they certainly get a lot of attention for a rather inconsequential body of work.

Answer 4

Tchaikovski first. The lack of formal balancement, the excess of pathos (just think of composers like Beethoven who could express a deep, universal grief without pouring all those overcharged effects) candidate him as a left-behind girlie consolation. I am not saying he wasn't one of the great, but he didn't write only Symphony n.6 and Eugene Oneghin, so whoever praises him should add a caution on the genuinity of his expression.
The second is Stravinski. A ficticiuos analogy to Picasso in terms of formal versatility boosts his stock-value, but Picasso was a star, he only one amongst many.
If you're interested in underrated, Domenico Scarlatti, Smetana and Enescu just to name three.
Compare Stravinski's and Enescu's Oedipus and let me know.

Answer 5

WOW! I'm amazed by these responses. To all of you naming a composer they think is underrated...do you consider yourselves to be qualified to judge these composers?? You say Bach is boring, thats fine. Perhaps you find him boring. However, that does not make him underrated or not great. It simply means you do not have the faculties or experience to appreciate the brilliance of Bach. It is utterly ridiculous and foolishly arrogant to think that you know enough to judge these composers who have stood the test of time. If the question was, which composers don't you enjoy listening to...your answers would be fine. But to simply say that you do not see what others see in him...therefore he is overrated, is disrespectful and arrogant, not to mention plain old stupid. I'm sorry if I came off harsh, but when I see people making grand judgments of figures that are without a doubt great in their field, I get worked up.
Sorry

Answer 6

Bellini

Answer 7

Pachebel

Answer 8

Arnold Schoenberg. I don't perceive the music without a logic.

Answer 9

Wagner. His operas are excruciatingly long-winded. It's music for masochists!

Answer 10

Schubert, erratic unstable and moody, some of the the piano sonatas are listenable though.