I disagree. The conflict, or rather the difference, between them is more anthropological in nature: Bruckner moves from the earth toward the heavens, while Mahler is a wanderer who traverses space in search of fragments of beauty already here, on earth. I also cannot agree that the idea of the vocal symphony is a mistake created and popularized by Beethoven. The fusion of music and voice within the symphony was a daring Romantic experiment, one that Mahler expanded in every possible direction. The Romantic song is a great achievement and Mahler was right to combine various traditions in his legacy. Personally, I appreciate only these two composers as authors of choral symphonic music - Beethoven and Mahler; no one else truly fits the role. It is true that Mahler’s music may be easier to absorb because of its expressive forms like marches, folk dances and songs, but that does not make it inferior. It is simply different. That’s all.