POLL Brahms or Wagner?

[Florestan]

It would be interesting to know who voted for what.

No surprise from me: I voted Brahms. 

both B and W are masters without whom music would be much poorer.

Absolutely, but I took the question as implying "which one of them do you prefer?"

I would like to quote here (courtesy of our distinguished member Alberich) Tchaikovsky's assessment of Wagner.

And so, by way of conclusion, I should like to say something about the overall impression which this performance of Der Ring des Nibelungen has left me with. Firstly, it has left me with a vague recollection of many strikingly beautiful musical features, especially of a symphonic kind, which is very strange, given that Wagner least of all intended to write operas in a symphonic style. Secondly, it has left me with respectful admiration for the author's tremendous talent and his incredibly rich technique. Thirdly, it has left me with misgivings as to whether Wagner's view of opera is correct. Fourthly, it has left me greatly exhausted, but at the same time it has also left me with the wish to continue my study of this most complicated work of music ever written.

That pretty much sums it up for me. Had Wagner stuck with symphonic music, he'd have been one of my favorite composers. 

[Karl Henning]

I would like to quote here (courtesy of our distinguished member Alberich) Tchaikovsky's assessment of Wagner.

And so, by way of conclusion, I should like to say something about the overall impression which this performance of Der Ring des Nibelungen has left me with. Firstly, it has left me with a vague recollection of many strikingly beautiful musical features, especially of a symphonic kind, which is very strange, given that Wagner least of all intended to write operas in a symphonic style. Secondly, it has left me with respectful admiration for the author's tremendous talent and his incredibly rich technique. Thirdly, it has left me with misgivings as to whether Wagner's view of opera is correct. Fourthly, it has left me greatly exhausted, but at the same time it has also left me with the wish to continue my study of this most complicated work of music ever written.

Wonderful!  And sharply insightful.

[Ken B]

Wonderful!  And sharply insightful.

Indeed.
As for the "symphonic" part, I have Cooke's lectures on the Ring, illlustrated with sections from Solti. As a layman I found them fascinating.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I would like to quote here (courtesy of our distinguished member Alberich)

That was actually a pretty good joke. Whatever, I am flattered anyway, thank you very much.