I think Berlioz might have agreed with you; there's a story that he stood up in a box during a performance of one of Cherubini's Operas calling out "A penny - (or whatever the currency in question was) - for an idea " It's amazing that Beethoven rated him so highly. Cherubini on being asked to comment on Beethoven said, "His music makes me sneeze."
I'll add a note to that effect, too, about Gli Abencerragi , Chris. I recall listening to the live recording of Cherubini's Lodoïska some years ago - not the currently available Muti or the newer one conducted by Rohrer but the one from 1961 conducted by de Fabritiis with a good cast - and honestly think that it was awful - lots of men clumping about and shouting, far too much dialogue and hardly a tune to throw at a dog - but no doubt now someone will tell me that I am scandalously denigrating a masterpiece...
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