Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Advantages: The ultimate operatic experience
Disadvantages: It's complicated, but so was Wagner

...To the uninitiated, listening to the Ring Cycle first is not the best way to try and understand the world of Richard Wagner and his romantic notion of life on earth as we know it today. Something like reading Herman Hesse's Glass Bead Game first, then exploring his earlier works. That's a back-to-front approach. Likewise with Wagner. You need to start at the beginning and work your way through the elements of his creativity and composition. When you finally reach the Ring cycle, your love of the music will be enhanced and your understanding about a musical genius fully appreciated. So, let's take a tour of Wagner's operas and try to build a foundation of understanding of his operas from our listening point of view. Some commentators believe the Ring Cycle was clear in Wagner's mind before he started writing any operas at all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Music to my ears
Disadvantages: Novocaine for my backside

...I'm sitting here about to write an opinion on Wagner's Ring and wondering seriously if a) I'm mad b) if I'll finish it before the end of my life, and c) whether it will be of any use to anyone else whatsoever. Nevertheless, my Ciao motto is "write what you know", and I know Wagner's Ring, and especially Solti's first, and benchmark, recording at least as well as the back of my hand. I recommend this glorious early sixties boxed-set over and above any other, since you have some of the last links here with singers that studied with those who had worked with Wagner. The glorious Norwegian soprano Kirsten Flagstad appears in one of her final recordings as Fricka in Das Rheingold (when she sat quietly knitting at a piano rehearsal, the general concensus was that "the old girl's past it" until she began to sing...), Hans Hotter turns... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: nothing

..., Op.49 Richard Wagner Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walkure - Der Ring des Nibelungen: Part 2) Maurice Ravel Bolero (conclusion) (Bolero, Poeme choregraphique) Giuseppe Verdi Va pensiero, sull'ali dorate (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves) (Nabucco (1853)) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Rondo (Allegro vivace) (Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat Major, K.495) Thomas Hampson Baritone Ernest Blanc Baritone James Morris Bass Gerald Finley Cantor Sabine Meyer Clarinet Dennis Brain Horn Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzosoprano Daniele Millet Mezzosoprano Dame Moura Lympany Piano Horacio Gutierrez Piano Cecile Ousset Piano Stephen Hough Piano Maksim Mrvica Piano Maria Tipo Piano Wayne Marshall Piano Anne Queffelec Piano Mady Mesple Soprano Angela Gheorghiu Soprano Maria Callas Soprano Roberto Alagna Tenor Nicolai Gedda Tenor Jose Carreras Tenor Timothy Beasley... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful