MILAN (AP) — The dual bicentennial of the births of composers Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner is turning into a dueling bicentennial.

La Scala general manager Stephane Lissner on Monday dismissed as “ridiculous” criticism by the national media of the decision by the Milan opera house that was once Italian musical hero Verdi’s musical home to open the celebratory season with “Lohengrin” — by German opera icon Wagner.

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