Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[jlaurson]

I'm not sure. I generally enjoy Barenboim and his cycle got high marks from reviewers. Should I have gone with Solti's? Do you own the Barenboim?

I, for what it's worth, think that Barenboim's is a very fine ring, actually. And, in budget form, with those excellent fat booklets still included (they are, right?) perhaps even a top choice, all compromises considered.

[MishaK]

I'm not sure. I generally enjoy Barenboim and his cycle got high marks from reviewers. Should I have gone with Solti's? Do you own the Barenboim?

Barenboim is a perfectly great choice. Good singers, a sense of live electricity, and absolutely superb orchestral execution and direction from the podium.

[Mirror Image]

I, for what it's worth, think that Barenboim's is a very fine ring, actually. And, in budget form, with those excellent fat booklets still included (they are, right?) perhaps even a top choice, all compromises considered.

Thanks for the comments, jlaurson. This is a reissue of the original box set released in 2005, so I'm not sure if those booklets are included. I read from an Amazon reviewer that they weren't, so this will be disappointing, but I got the set for a good price that I couldn't pass up. I'm not sure what my second Ring will be. Perhaps Karajan's or Solti's? I have to make up my mind quick, because my birthday is coming up and this will be what I ask for from my parents.

[Mirror Image]

Barenboim is a perfectly great choice. Good singers, a sense of live electricity, and absolutely superb orchestral execution and direction from the podium.

Thanks Mensch. The reviews I read were very positive about this cycle and I generally enjoy Barenboim's conducting.

[DavidRoss]

I'm not sure. I generally enjoy Barenboim and his cycle got high marks from reviewers. Should I have gone with Solti's? Do you own the Barenboim?

No, I haven't even heard it.  Solti's was my third or fourth and I've never regretted it.  My next (assuming subsequent productions maintain the standard of Das Rheingold) will be the new Levine/Lepage when it's released on DVD. 

[Scarpia]

No, I haven't even heard it.  Solti's was my third or fourth and I've never regretted it.  My next (assuming subsequent productions maintain the standard of Das Rheingold) will be the new Levine/Lepage when it's released on DVD Blu-ray. 

[FideLeo]

Was difficult to get...

[asin]B000024047[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

No, I haven't even heard it.  Solti's was my third or fourth and I've never regretted it.  My next (assuming subsequent productions maintain the standard of Das Rheingold) will be the new Levine/Lepage when it's released on DVD. 

I'll probably ask for Solti's for my birthday then as this one is highly recommended not just by yourself but by many others. For some of my tax return money, I will probably buy some of Wagner's operas outside of the Ring. This is such a daunting task as I'm kind of going into Wagner completely blindfolded having only heard his overtures and preludes from various conductors and orchestras. As with anything, it's going to be about personal preferences, but I want at least two more Ring cycles (Solti's being my next one).

[DavidRoss]

DVD Blu-ray

Probably right...a couple more years and DVD will be as dead as VHS.

[Mirror Image]

Probably right...a couple more years and DVD will be as dead as VHS.

I don't think DVDs are going anywhere soon, but I think the BluRay thing is quite happening now.

[Scarpia]

Probably right...a couple more years and DVD will be as dead as VHS.

The frustrating thing is that some new productions are being released on DVD, despite the fact that they were obviously recorded in high definition (such as those Met broadcasts that were shown live in movie theaters in High-Def).   

I got an inexpensive blu-ray player just so that those relatively few video discs I buy can be Blu-ray.  If you are going to use a blu-ray player to upsample DVDs you might want a fancy one with a good video processor, but for Blu-ray discs it really doesn't matter.  The Blu-ray player just pipes the video data to your monitor through a digital connection and the image quality is determined by your monitor.

For movies, Blu-ray often isn't much of an improvement, particularly if it is not a new movie or not a movie famous for beautiful cinematography.  But the Hi-Def video cameras they use in opera productions produce impressive results.

[Sadko]

You don't like Berg? 

I liked Wozzek on stage, the extreme emotions were well expressed with his music. I listened to pieces now and again on the radio, quite a lot over the years, and I can sum up: I'm not interested enough "to go towards him", if he comes along I can listen with interest, but I don't need him. I need something I can connect to "melodiously-emotionally", and I don't find enough of that in Berg. (Which of course is not only a matter of tonality, there are very tonal and very boring things.) Some of Shostakovich's things can be quite not so "beautiful", almost noise, especially if you sit right in front of the stage, e. g. the ballet of the policemen in Katerina Ismailova or parts of "The Nose", but I do connect emotionally to it and finde it somehow "attractive".

[Mirror Image]

I liked Wozzek on stage, the extreme emotions were well expressed with his music. I listened to pieces now and again on the radio, quite a lot over the years, and I can sum up: I'm not interested enough "to go towards him", if he comes along I can listen with interest, but I don't need him. I need something I can connect to "melodiously-emotionally", and I don't find enough of that in Berg. (Which of course is not only a matter of tonality, there are very tonal and very boring things.) Some of Shostakovich's things can be quite not so "beautiful", almost noise, especially if you sit right in front of the stage, e. g. the ballet of the policemen in Katerina Ismailova or parts of "The Nose", but I do connect emotionally to it and finde it somehow "attractive".

To each their own.

[Sadko]

To each their own.

Of course

[Mirror Image]

Of course

I guess, for me, there's a lot in Berg's music that is downright vulgar, which, in turn, attracts me to it. I think like trudging through the darkness.

[Sadko]

I guess, for me, there's a lot in Berg's music that is downright vulgar, which, in turn, attracts me to it. I think like trudging through the darkness.

I think I get an idea.

It's a pity one can't have hearing sessions together here, online. Even things normally far from my own tastes can be interesting if someone is passionate about it and/or sheds new light on it.

[Mirror Image]

I think I get an idea.

It's a pity one can't have hearing sessions together here, online. Even things normally far from my own tastes can be interesting if someone is passionate about it and/or sheds new light on it.

Yes, it is a pity because this could warrant so much discussion not just from you or I, but other members here as well.

[Papy Oli]

Ordered tonight - one more won't hurt...

[Sadko]

The postman brought these today:



Winterreise with hurdy-gurdy, and



Winterreise with two guitars (and Scot Weir, tenor)

[marvinbrown]

I'll probably ask for Solti's for my birthday then as this one is highly recommended not just by yourself but by many others. For some of my tax return money, I will probably buy some of Wagner's operas outside of the Ring. This is such a daunting task as I'm kind of going into Wagner completely blindfolded having only heard his overtures and preludes from various conductors and orchestras. As with anything, it's going to be about personal preferences, but I want at least two more Ring cycles (Solti's being my next one).

  Hello and welcome to Wagner  ...................  beyond the Ring I can recommend these:

1)

  I have close to 1000 CDs and this Furtwanger Tristan recording is my absolute favorite!  In my opinion there isn't a better Tristan on record (not even Bohm at Bayreuth which would be my second choice)!

2)

  This Karajan recording is breathtakingly beautiful!

and finally this:

  3)

   Wagner had the sound of his Bayreuth Opera House in mind for Parsifal, so a recording at Bayreuth is essential for any collection!  I suppose you can also buy the Karajan Parsifal as well but no, stick with my recommendation first you won't regret it!

  Solti's Ring is excellent, but Bohm's Ring is not to be missed either  !! 

 

  marvin