Wagner's Valhalla

[Elgarian]

Listened to Das Rheingold in full today, absolutely amazing, beautiful, thrilling music! I am very excited to continue my journey through the Ring Cycle! So great....

Absolutely! I still remember my wife phoning me at work (this was in in 1976 or 7) to tell me our box of Bohm's Ring had arrived - this was a vinyl set, bought mail order (we'd all but mortgaged everything we owned to get it) - and she could hardly contain herself: 'I've listened to the first Rheingold LP and it's amazing - just amazing!'

That afternoon, I had to carry on at work - she listened to the rest of Rheingold. It's astonishing that our marriage survived that kind of trauma, really.

[Karl Henning]

You see? You never know how strong your marriage is, until these extraordinary forces are brought to bear upon the home . . . .

[madaboutmahler]

No, that was a soprano . . . .

So glad you listened to Das Rheingold, so, so glad! Listening to the Ring Cycle is absolutely an overwhelming experience, its massive beauty and power capture you completely, like a sort of hypnotism!

Thank you, Ilaria! Very excited to continuing my journey through the Ring Cycle now! Even more excited when I found out that Die Walkure has a thunder machine!!!!!    

Absolutely! I still remember my wife phoning me at work (this was in in 1976 or 7) to tell me our box of Bohm's Ring had arrived - this was a vinyl set, bought mail order (we'd all but mortgaged everything we owned to get it) - and she could hardly contain herself: 'I've listened to the first Rheingold LP and it's amazing - just amazing!'

That afternoon, I had to carry on at work - she listened to the rest of Rheingold. It's astonishing that our marriage survived that kind of trauma, really.

haha Wonderful! I feel like going to excite a special someone about how amazing the Ring Cycle is right now too!

[Lisztianwagner]

Thank you, Ilaria! Very excited to continuing my journey through the Ring Cycle now! Even more excited when I found out that Die Walkure has a thunder machine!!!!!    

But I had already told you the Ring Cycle included the thunder machine!!

[madaboutmahler]

But I had already told you the Ring Cycle included the thunder machine!!

haha Sorry, I must have forgotten! I had a massive fit of excitement when I saw it in the score! That climax looks thrilling....

[Elgarian]

You see? You never know how strong your marriage is, until these extraordinary forces are brought to bear upon the home . . . .

There are times, Dr Henning, when the wit and goodwill of your posts makes a dull day brighter.

[madaboutmahler]

There are times, Dr Henning, when the wit and goodwill of your posts makes a dull day brighter.

+1

(or a great day even better! )

[Lisztianwagner]

haha Sorry, I must have forgotten! I had a massive fit of excitement when I saw it in the score! That climax looks thrilling....

No problem Haha, I know you are a great lover of the thunder machine I think I got which climax you were talking about, of course it is certainly incredibly powerful and haunting, absolutely beautiful!

There are times, Dr Henning, when the wit and goodwill of your posts makes a dull day brighter.

+2 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Quote from: karlhenning on Today at 18:38:06>No, that was a soprano . . . .

[Madiel]

Wasn't entirely sure if this was the best thread option, but here goes...

First, by way of background, I'm not actually familiar with Wagner's music yet, apart from tiny snippets.  Considering going to watch the Met's Ring cycle at the local cinema in a couple of months (the 'Live at the Met' program - seems like a good opportunity to test out the whole Ring cycle without breaking the bank).

BUT, something I am familiar with and was having a conversation about yesterday, is the 'Gap Cycle' of books by Stephen Donaldson.  Which is a reimagining of the Ring in a futuristic science fiction setting.  Donaldson makes it quite clear that he is not trying to do a literal re-telling of the operas, but he clearly takes many elements and themes from them.

I love the books. I was vaguely wondering if any of the Wagner afficionados around here knew them.

[madaboutmahler]

Listened to the first act of Die Walkure today... absolutely beautiful! Will be listening to the second act tommorow!

I am really loving the Karajan performance by the way, an amazing sound. Such heavy strings in the climaxes! And such sensitive, expressive playing. Really excellent, so thank you again to everyone who helped me to finally choose the Karajan Ring over the others for my first cycle!

[Lisztianwagner]

Listened to the first act of Die Walkure today... absolutely beautiful! Will be listening to the second act tommorow!

I am really loving the Karajan performance by the way, an amazing sound. Such heavy strings in the climaxes! And such sensitive, expressive playing. Really excellent, so thank you again to everyone who helped me to finally choose the Karajan Ring over the others for my first cycle!

I'm rather speechless you decided to split Die Walkure, but glad you enjoyed the first act though; the other two acts are even more striking, there Wagner achieved the peak of beauty and expressive strenght, absolutely thrilling and haunting. And Karajan's performance doesn't need any comment, apart from saying that it's definitely a masterpiece.

[madaboutmahler]

I'm rather speechless you decided to split Die Walkure, but glad you enjoyed the first act though; the other two acts are even more striking, there Wagner achieved the peak of beauty and expressive strenght, absolutely thrilling and haunting. And Karajan's performance doesn't need any comment, apart from saying that it's definitely a masterpiece.

Sorry, Ilaria! I didn't think I would have enough time to listen to the whole opera in just one day... and listening to it by act seemed the best solution!
Thank you! Your words make me even more excited to hear the rest!

[madaboutmahler]

Just posted in the listening thread:

Just back from:

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Die Walkure: Act 2

Amazing music! Absolutely thrilling, with many many beautiful, moving moments. Looking forward to Act 3 which will be listened to tommorow.

Act 2 was amazing! The last few minutes were absolutely thrilling. And there was a section that ended the 1st half of the act (end of disc 2) that I found very moving... so many beautiful moments!

Really excited to listen to Act 3 tommorow!

[Lisztianwagner]

Just posted in the listening thread:
Act 2 was amazing! The last few minutes were absolutely thrilling. And there was a section that ended the 1st half of the act (end of disc 2) that I found very moving... so many beautiful moments!

Really excited to listen to Act 3 tommorow!

Yes, the speeches among Wotan, Fricka and Brunnhilde are definitely beautiful, incredibly passionate; the tragedy achieves its overwhelming peak, with the music subjected to the meaning of the poetry, expressed by Wotan's words: "Auf geb' ich mein Werk; nur Eines will ich noch: das Ende, das Ende!". Absolutely thrilling......

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I always find that dialogue between Fricka and Wotan one of the best things Wagner ever did. He is really even-handed in his treatment of both characters, and the music he finds for Fricka belongs to the noblest in the whole of the Ring.

[Lisztianwagner]

I always find that dialogue between Fricka and Wotan one of the best things Wagner ever did. He is really even-handed in his treatment of both characters, and the music he finds for Fricka belongs to the noblest in the whole of the Ring.

Well said, Johan!

[madaboutmahler]

It certainly was amazing! Can't wait to listen to Act 3 tommorow...

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Act 3 packs the biggest emotional punch imaginable. Only Mahler's 'Abschied' from Das Lied von der Erde comes near.

[Elgarian]

It certainly was amazing! Can't wait to listen to Act 3 tommorow...

I can only echo the others. For me, there are very few musical episodes that approach this in emotional impact.