Gratuitous Friday – Jonas Kaufmann Sings Rienzi

Rienzi Vowing to Obtain Justice... by William Holman Hunt

Wagner’s opera Rienzi was fairly successful when it opened. But it was long. Rienzi was only Wagner's third opera, so he was still writing in that Italian grand opera style. In fact Meyerbeer (I know, he's not Italian, but you get the idea) championed this opera when it was new. 

Subsequently, Hans von Bülow referred to Rienzi as "Meyerbeer's best opera,” and I don't think he meant it as a complement to either composer.