20 APRIL 2002, Page 31

Der Meister

From Mr Michael Henderson Sir: Having been challenged by Mr Anthony Malcolm (Letters, 13 April) to defend my estimation of Wagner as the greatest composer after Beethoven, it is worth quoting Baudelaire, who told Wagner, 'Thank you for explaining my life to me.'

Of course Mozart and Schubert have their place. I would not willingly trade a single song by Schubert for the whole of Italian opera — yes, Verdi and all. There are plenty of great composers, but, in my opinion, Bach, Beethoven and Wagner are the ones who shaped musical composition and performance.

Michael Henderson

London W13