Wagner Opera Blowout! Choose Your Favorites!

[Karl Henning]

Seems there must be a Domingo/Levine/Met out there . . . .

[mc ukrneal]

Seems there must be a Domingo/Levine/Met out there . . . .

Yes. I found it.  It's this one:
[asin]B000001GHZ[/asin]

[mszczuj]

Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Tristan und Isolde.

[Elgarian]

I usually consider Der Ring des Nibelungen as un unique, beautiful, absolutely thrilling work, I would have really liked to vote for the whole Ring Cycle; though I chose Tristan und Isolde, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung.

I was discomfited in a similar way; but then, I'm first and foremost a Ring fan, rather than a Wagner fan. So I opted for Rheingold, Walkure and Gotterdammerung. I couldn't contemplate life without them.

[Mirror Image]

I'm actually wrong with how many Parsifal recordings I have (I just checked ) I own: Solti, Karajan, AND Barenboim.

[Sergeant Rock]

Ok. But Domingo also did one with Levine.  At least, I thought he did. Now I will need to check...

Yes, Levine made a Parsifal with Domingo and the Met. But that isn't the one Karl owns. His is from Bayreuth.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Yes. I found it.  It's this one:
[asin]B000001GHZ[/asin]

You beat me to it 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Das Rheingold....

Excellent. Rheingold needed a vote.

Sarge

[DavidW]

Precisely, why I only allowed there to be three choices. It forces people to really think about their choices instead of just choosing the whole Ring.

That was pretty clever, but it made it frustrating for me to choose.

[Mirror Image]

That was pretty clever, but it made it frustrating for me to choose.

It shouldn't be too frustrating if you know deep down which operas you will cherish for the rest of your life.

[Ten thumbs]

Die Walküre

I'm quite happy to start here - I love it.

Oh, and Tristan too. I'll forgive the Lenau chord! or is it Beethoven?

My final choice is Parsifal

[eyeresist]

I never have liked EMI's sonics for Karajan, so I'll pass on his Tristan und Isolde.

Mightn't they have used a different production group for the operas as opposed to plain symphonic works? Probably worth checking some samples just in case.

[Mirror Image]

Mightn't they have used a different production group for the operas as opposed to plain symphonic works? Probably worth checking some samples just in case.

I've read some negative comments about Karajan's Tristan und Isolde audio quality, but I'm really happy with Bohm's performance. Many reasons why I have two or three recordings of the same opera is because I got them cheap like Parsifal for example. I believe Karajan's was around $25, got Barenboim's used, like new for $15 (the original with the large booklet), and got Solti's free because the seller misrepresented the condition of the item (I think the outer box wasn't "like new" but everything else was and the seller told me just to keep it ).

[nico1616]

Meistersinger is my number 1, it works perfectly on stage too and has a lightness that is rare in Wagner
Siegfried number 2 (the Solti recording  )
Lohengrin 3 (again Solti + Domingo and Norman Wow!!!)

For me, Tristan und Isolde does not work in the opera house. I have never seen a production in which the act 2 duet does not seem ridiculously long. And then you still have act 3 waiting for you in which Tristan keeps on dying and dying.
The patience this opera requires is just to much for me 

[Mirror Image]

Lohengrin 3 (again Solti + Domingo and Norman Wow!!!)

That's the recording I own Lohengrin. Good to hear it's a good one. I have yet to listen to it unfortunately.