On a recent visit to Geneva I noticed the composers' names on the front facade of the Victoria Hall. On the left: Händel, Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schumann, Weber, Cherubini, Haydn, and on the right: Wagner, Liszt, Beethoven, Chopin, Berlioz, Balfe, Schubert, Raff. It was interesting to see who was considered a sung composer in Geneva in the early 1890s - and to note that my word processor (set to British English) underlined just two names that it considered misspelt. Any guesses ;)
Is that Irish composer Michael William Balfe? Hmmmm ....
And Brahms is not on the list? Hmmmm .....
I think it must be Miachel William Balfe and yes, Brahms and also, perhaps, Bizet not being on the list is somewhat surprising...
Good to see Raff there, though.