Wagner One Ring to rule them all...

Started by canninator, September 24, 2007, 03:37:41 AM

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Lisztianwagner

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 10, 2012, 08:05:27 PM
One Ring to rule them all? That's easy...



It doesn't get much better than this and I own five Ring cycles: Karajan, Solti, Levine, Jurowski, and Barenboim. Karajan has all the power, majesty, beauty, and crystal clear dynamics that I need from my Wagner recordings. No other set compares IMHO.

I completely agree with everything you said, John! ;D Although I have to admit that in the third act, Barenboim's Siegfried has a slightly more passionate, overwhelming finale.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." - Gustav Mahler

DavidRoss

Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 10, 2012, 05:45:50 PM
It might be useful to remind people --or to suggest to those who have never heard it--of Anna Russell's lecture on the Ring,  which, while being utterly faithful to Wagner's libretto, manages to puncture almost all of Der Meister's balloons of pomposity. (And the other items on the CD are of the same high caliber, and the truly bargain minded can get a used copy for approximately one Lincoln.)
:) Yep, she's great. And those without a Lincoln can hear her "free" via youtube. I dare say Russell's exposition of the Ring is more essential than many a scholarly tome. ;)
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Mirror Image

Quote from: marvinbrown on September 11, 2012, 02:06:23 AM
  OBJECTION!!   $:)...... ;D ;D ;D

  I have still not recieved my Keilberth Ring cycle 1955, so I write the following WITHOUT PREJUDICE:

  Currently I have 6 Ring Cycles in my collection: Solti, Karajan, Bohm, Krauss, Barenboim and Levine on DVD.  The Ring to rule them all must have the perfect cast, perfect conducting, great sound and great playing.  As I see it the perfect Ring lies somewhere between Bohm's  electrifyingly fast paced conducting and respect for overall symphonic architecure of the peice, Krauss's "made in heaven" cast (Hotter, Varnay Windgassen in top form) and Solti's technicolor sound with superb playing from the VPO coupled with a very very strong cast.

  The Karajan ring is proving to be my least favorite of the bunch as it falls short of these criteria.  I'm trying to like it Sarge, honestly I am  :-\
Barenboim is like your typical B student, he's good just not great.

  I just ordered Keilberth 1955, which I am dying to hear......I am hoping that Keilberth 1955 = Solti + Bohm + Krauss or at least 80% of Solti + Bohm + Krauss . They say it is the best Ring cycle on record because it has Krauss's cast in top form, is in stereo sound, live from Beyreuth with a conductor who is sympathetic to his singers and has a firm grasp of the symphonic architecture of the Ring cycle. 

 
  marvin



I knew you wouldn't agree with my post, Marvin and this fact could be partially why I made that post. :) I don't think there really is a Ring to rule them all, BUT Karajan's gets incredibly close for me and I connected with it instantly which is why I chose it. I like Karajan's controlled approach. Karajan may not have the perfect cast, but I could careless about that. He has the Berlin Philharmonic and it's Karajan so this is about as perfect as it gets for  me.

Mirror Image

Quote from: Lisztianwagner on September 11, 2012, 03:45:27 AM
I completely agree with everything you said, John! ;D Although I have to admit that in the third act, Barenboim's Siegfried has a slightly more passionate, overwhelming finale.

Siegfried is my least favorite opera of the Ring. In fact, I hardly ever listen to it to be honest. I usually just skip right over it. For me, it's just not as exciting as the other three.

Brahmsian

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 11, 2012, 04:18:20 AM
Siegfried is my least favorite opera of the Ring. In fact, I hardly ever listen to it to be honest. I usually just skip right over it. For me, it's just not as exciting as the other three.

That's interesting John, as Siegfried has been my favourite of the 4 from the get-go.  I listened to the entire Siegfried twice in one day, the first time I listened to it!  (Solti recording).

:)

That's OK, we don't have to all like the same thing.

Brahmsian

Quote from: ChamberNut on September 11, 2012, 04:31:11 AM
That's interesting John, as Siegfried has been my favourite of the 4 from the get-go.  I listened to the entire Siegfried twice in one day, the first time I listened to it!  (Solti recording).

:)

That's OK, we don't have to all like the same thing.

PS - I know I'm in the minority.  Most people, not all (but most) prefer one of the other three.  I'm fully aware of that.

Mirror Image

Quote from: ChamberNut on September 11, 2012, 04:31:11 AM
That's interesting John, as Siegfried has been my favourite of the 4 from the get-go.  I listened to the entire Siegfried twice in one day, the first time I listened to it!  (Solti recording).

:)

That's OK, we don't have to all like the same thing.

Well, sure, we all like different things. This is the spice of life. :) I would say my favorite opera from the Ring is Das Rheingold for it's compactness and for the orchestral music itself. Gotterdammerung would be my second favorite. I don't listen to Wagner as much as Ilaria does or Marvin, but I can only take Wagner in small doses. He's absolutely incredible composer though and listening to the Ring from start to finish has been something that has stayed with me ever since.

Madiel

#787
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on September 10, 2012, 05:45:50 PM
It might be useful to remind people --or to suggest to those who have never heard it--of Anna Russell's lecture on the Ring,  which, while being utterly faithful to Wagner's libretto, manages to puncture almost all of Der Meister's balloons of pomposity. (And the other items on the CD are of the same high caliber, and the truly bargain minded can get a used copy for approximately one Lincoln.)
[asin]B0000027JD[/asin]

Indeed, I've known Anna's version for many years.  And occasionally it came to mind while watching the 'real thing'.

After we'd seen all 4 operas, I played it for the person I went with. We were both screeching with laughter precisely because she is so faithful to the libretto.

It's hard to pick my favourite part.  Is it that Hunding has an ash tree with a sword in it growing out of his living room floor?  Or is it that Erda tells Wotan to be careful, and then bears him 8 daughters?  Or is that it takes a very long time before Siegfried meets a woman who isn't his aunt? :D

PS As for the rest of the CD: to fit on one disc they take out parts of the discussion of different singing styles (British, Russian, contemporary etc.) when compared to the original LP, which is very annoying.  Happily, different editions of the CD take out different parts, and having stumbled across a very cheap copy of a 2nd edition it was possible to reconstruct the complete version!

PPS Personally, nothing quite tops the lecture on how to write your very own Gilbert & Sullivan operetta!!
I am now working on a discography of the works of Vagn Holmboe. Please visit and also contribute!

Lisztianwagner

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 11, 2012, 04:18:20 AM
Siegfried is my least favorite opera of the Ring. In fact, I hardly ever listen to it to be honest. I usually just skip right over it. For me, it's just not as exciting as the other three.

I understand. I'm just the opposite as Siegfried is my favourite opera of the Ring Cycle, along with Götterdämmerung; such passionate, thrilling and hauntingly beautiful music! Can't wait to see it live next November, I'm really excited! ;D

Quote from: ChamberNut on September 11, 2012, 04:31:11 AM
That's interesting John, as Siegfried has been my favourite of the 4 from the get-go.  I listened to the entire Siegfried twice in one day, the first time I listened to it!  (Solti recording).

Amazing, Ray, that one is my favourite opera as well! I did something similar the first time I listened to Wagner's Ring too: I listened to the entire Das Rheingold, Die Walküre and the first act of Siegfried  in a row. :)
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." - Gustav Mahler

Mirror Image

Quote from: Lisztianwagner on September 11, 2012, 05:28:39 AM
I understand. I'm just the opposite as Siegfried is my favourite opera of the Ring Cycle, along with Götterdämmerung; such passionate, thrilling and hauntingly beautiful music! Can't wait to see it live next November, I'm really excited! ;D

Siegfried has too much singing IMHO. It seems to me that I'm now drawn to music that is more compact and direct, which I suppose is why I've pretty much weened myself off of Romantic music. I can only take Bruckner in small doses now as well, which is something I wouldn't have said three years ago. I think there's just a lot of music that overstays its welcome to me now. It don't think it's a matter of patience, but rather a matter of just being drawn to music that doesn't seem like a chore to listen to. Again, small doses does wonders for me now.

Madiel

Quote from: Mirror Image on September 11, 2012, 05:37:18 AM
Siegfried has too much singing IMHO.

This has GOT to make a quote list somewhere. An opera with too much singing.
I am now working on a discography of the works of Vagn Holmboe. Please visit and also contribute!

DavidRoss

Quote from: ChamberNut on September 11, 2012, 04:33:51 AM
PS - I know I'm in the minority.  Most people, not all (but most) prefer one of the other three.  I'm fully aware of that.
Really, Ray? I'd have thought Siegfried was the best liked. If you're in the minority, at least you're in good company!
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Mirror Image

Quote from: orfeo on September 11, 2012, 05:41:45 AM
This has GOT to make a quote list somewhere. An opera with too much singing.

Objectively, compared to the rest of the Ring, yes, I do believe Siegfried has too much singing.

madaboutmahler

I wouldn't be able to say which is my favourite of the 4.... ;)
Sometimes, I think it is Siegfried for me. But then all I have to do is think of the Immolation Scene from Gotterdammerung to start questioning myself. And I love Das Rheingold so much, and there is so much great music in Die Walkure! I just couldn't choose. :)

I'll say Gotterdammerung for now though, primarily because of the Immolation Scene.

I need to listen to some of the Ring again sometime soon! :)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Opus106

Quote from: madaboutmahler on September 11, 2012, 09:17:05 AM
I need to listen to some of the Ring [...] sometime soon! :)

I have begun to harbour such demonic thoughts as well, in the last few days.

*My goodness, did I just post in the Ring thread? :o*
Regards,
Navneeth

madaboutmahler

Quote from: Opus106 on September 11, 2012, 09:26:47 AM
I have begun to harbour such demonic thoughts as well, in the last few days.

*My goodness, did I just post in the Ring thread? :o*

;D

It was certainly an incredible journey, Nav! Give it a try! ;)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Opus106

Quote from: madaboutmahler on September 11, 2012, 09:31:57 AM
;D

It was certainly an incredible journey, Nav! Give it a try! ;)

I actually sat through the first act of Die Walküre a few days ago, and I suppose something bit me then. That's the most I've had of Wagner at one sitting, apart from bleeding chunks. And soon after I started refresher-reading about leitmotifs and stuff. Haven't got the whole plot down yet.
Regards,
Navneeth

Mirror Image

I think any fan of late 19th Century Romanticism should hear Wagner's Ring at least once.

mc ukrneal

Quote from: Opus106 on September 11, 2012, 09:36:26 AM
I actually sat through the first act of Die Walküre a few days ago, and I suppose something bit me then. That's the most I've had of Wagner at one sitting, apart from bleeding chunks. And soon after I started refresher-reading about leitmotifs and stuff. Haven't got the whole plot down yet.
You may enjoy this as you learn the story and start exploring it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv7G92F2sqs.

Be kind to your fellow posters!!

Opus106

#799
Quote from: mc ukrneal on September 11, 2012, 10:57:34 AM
You may enjoy this as you learn the story and start exploring it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv7G92F2sqs.

Thanks. At work, right now. If it's the Lego thing, then yes, I've seen it before. :)
Regards,
Navneeth