Your Preferred Composer

[lukeottevanger]

In any case, Wagner owes it all to J Strauss. What's the opening of Rheingold if not an over-inflated waltz? And doesn't the Wood Bird hail right out of the Wienerwald? Die Fledermaustersinger more like.....

[karlhenning]

To make a crude comparison, without God, what would Moses have amounted to???

Comparing Wagner to God really is crude 

[karlhenning]

I know what you mean.  I can take about 15 minutes straight of his music; after that, I go for the vodka.

Not champagne?

[ChamberNut]

Certainly tougher than the one with R. Strauss and the two movie guys.

Yes, a lot tougher.  I chose R. Strauss, by the narrowest of margins. 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Die Fledermaustersinger more like.....

Comparing Wagner to God really is crude 

Many Fundamentalist Wagnerians (aka Wagnerrhoids) would think exactly the opposite.

[lukeottevanger]

Many Fundamentalist Wagnerians (aka Wagnerrhoids) would think exactly the opposite.

Surely you mean know....?

sorry, wrong thread....

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Surely you mean know....?

You're right - I think, they know.

[mn dave]

I take it those four composers aren't exactly your soul-mates?

You guess well.

[Chaszz]

I don't know about Wagner but if I were in a grave I know I'd be rolling over right about now. Because the Wagner fan in me finds over-the-top, overly gushy posts like the above pretty embarrassing.

Not that I'm against admiring Wagner (I voted for him). But let's have some balance and perspective, please!

Well, I meant it tongue in cheek...... mostly......
partly.......

[not edward]

J'ai choisi la banane.

[Sergeant Rock]

A couple of days age I put Wagner on the Pod, orchestral music with Szell/Cleveland. It's hard to get into and I don't know why.

Probably crap performances? Try Herbie V Karajan's Overture Preludes or...Barbirolli/Halle Orch. versions.

No, they aren't crap performances. I have nothing against the alternatives you suggest but Szell's Wagner goes to the desert island with me. I'm not alone in my admiration. I've never seen a negative review of these performances--the closest was a mini-review in Fanfare covering the CD re-release in 1988 in which the reviewer thought Szell's interpretations "a bit too cool" (but he was obviously smoking something when he listened for that review ) He admits Szell's Wagner was widely admired and thinks these are "superbly disciplined readings...magnificent playing by the orchestra."

Here are a few blurbs, examples of the critical consensus: 

"The orchestral playing here is in a very special class. Its virtuosity is breathtaking. Szell generates the greatest tension, particularly in the two scenes from Gotterdämmerung, while the Liebestod from Tristan has never been played on record with more passion and fire."  --Penguin Guide (recording awarded a Rosette).

"George Szell's lean and athletic recording of the best-known orchestral excerpts--including an especially rousing 'Ride of the Valkyries'--is an absolute necessity" --Jim Svejda, The Record Shelf Guide

"Frankly, if you like Wagner without a whiff of tedium you'd be better off with excerpts from the likes of George Szell on Sony Classics....These visceral, highly dramatic performances are where the Wagnerian adventure really begins."  --Dan Morgan, MusicWeb

"Alternative performances which should find an honoured place in any collection must surely include Furtwängler's phenomenal reading with the VPO from 1949 (Testament), Szell's impressive outing with the boys from Cleveland on budget priced Sony and Karajan's refurbished offering with the Berliners from his complete 1960s Ring cycle."   --Richard Lee-Van den Daele, MusicWeb

The CD is also Classic Today's reference recording. When the reviewers from Gramophone and Classics Today agree, it's a safe bet. But even more important, it comes with the Sergeant Rock Seal of Approval:



Sarge

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Well, I meant it tongue in cheek...... mostly......
partly.......

[DavidRoss]

Come now, Sarge--this example just further confirms James's value as one of the most reliable contributors on this site.  Remember the Seinfeld episode in which George realizes that he's been wrong about everything his whole life, so he decides to do the opposite of whatever he thinks best?  

[karlhenning]

J'ai choisi la banane.

Après moi, la banane . . . .

[lukeottevanger]

Indeed - Henning first, then bananas and other soft fruit, then Austro-German late-Romantics. It's the only order that makes sense.

[karlhenning]

Gosh, Luke, that wasn't quite what I had in mind.  But I will not shrink from the call.

Le peuple le veult! 

[Sergeant Rock]

Come now, Sarge--this example just further confirms James's value as one of the most reliable contributors on this site.  Remember the Seinfeld episode in which George realizes that he's been about everything his whole life, so he decides to do the opposite of whatever he thinks best?  

I do recall that episode. So James is our forum's George. I like it. 

Sarge