Wagner's Warehouse

[calyptorhynchus]

Some help here please.

I have most trouble in the Ring with Siegfried. Specifically a lot of the Act 1 and Act 2 scene 2 consists of Siegfried and Mime bickering. And, strange to relate I find that in many recordings their voices are too similar (they are both tenors), so I don't get a sense of actual dialogue.

I don't want a recording where Siegfried is hyper macho and Mime really whiny, but want one where the two are very different vocally. Any suggestions?

[AnotherSpin]

Some help here please.

I have most trouble in the Ring with Siegfried. Specifically a lot of the Act 1 and Act 2 scene 2 consists of Siegfried and Mime bickering. And, strange to relate I find that in many recordings their voices are too similar (they are both tenors), so I don't get a sense of actual dialogue.

I don't want a recording where Siegfried is hyper macho and Mime really whiny, but want one where the two are very different vocally. Any suggestions?

Which recordings have you had the chance to listen to?

For instance, the Solti studio Ring remains something of a benchmark, both for the quality of its cast and its superb sound. Windgassen returns as Siegfried, while Neidlinger's portrayal of Mime is vocally and dramatically quite distinctive. Another fine example is Bernard Haitink's recording with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (EMI), where Siegfried Jerusalem's youthful, lyrical Siegfried contrasts most attractively with Peter Haage's Mime.

Generally speaking, live recordings from Bayreuth are almost always admirable when it comes to vocal ensembles — Knappertsbusch's 1956 performance, featuring Windgassen and Paul Kuen, is a good case in point.