Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 3:02PM
I've discovered Wagner's Ring Cycle CD at an very surprising price of under £10. It is 14 cds comprising of The Rhinegold; The Valkyrie; Siegfried; and Twilight of the Gods. It is the original German and recorded in 1995 on a music alliance membran label. I don't normally go for cheap and this was a pleasant find on the internet. At last I can listen to something I only dreamed of owning.
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 5:44PM
#2
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Beware, Ian. You get what you pay.
Can you enlighten us who are the exact performers in this very affordable "Ring"? Is the Neuhold one?
Parla
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 5:56PM
#3
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
I'm enjoying the performance very much. Here are some of the artists:
John Wegner.
Wilja Ernst-Mosuraitus.
Tero Hannula.
Simon Yang.
Edward Cook.
Margaret Chalker.
Gunter Neuhold--Conductor.
By the way it is a live performance.
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 6:28PM
#4
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Contrary to the positive comments by 50m, I found this "Ring" the weakest I have ever listened to (I have almost all the stereo recordings and some great mono from the 50s). I have it in the Brilliant release too.
In my hi-end equipment, the recording sounded very poor, unconvincing and almost flat. As for the performances, extremely uneven and much less idiomatic.
However, if you "enjoy it", as you claim, so be it. It's your bet, anyway.
Parla
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 9:17PM
#5
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Good for you, Ian. I don't know that set, but I hope you enjoy it.
Obviously, I have no idea what you can and cannot afford, but if you have always dreamed of listening to the Ring, you can get umpteen versions on Spotify (5 quid a month, if you don't mind adverts), and many versions for a bit more than ten quid on Amazon. I just had a quick look and you can get the Janowski set for £18 including postage - and that, for me (not looking for an argument with anyone) is the best all-round set: terrific sound, great cast (with some weaknesses) and inspired conducting. The problem with a second-rate Ring is that you might not enjoy it, or might wonder what all the fuss is about. Vocally speaking, some of it might be genuinely painful to listen to. In addition, there are countless Rings floating about on the internet........ahem.
Finally, make sure you get a libretto from somewhere - if only from the internet. Impossible to enjoy or understand, otherwise.
Sat, Apr 27 2013, 10:10PM
#6
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Agreed about the Janowski Ring, Jane. It's terrific, and it features many top performers in their prime. Something that cannot be said about the ueber-famous Solti warhorse, alas. Still, the thing that started to irritate me about Janowski when I revisited it after many years is its distinctive lack of theatre atmosphere. The more you listen to Wagner, the more you learn how important it is to listen to the singer PERFORM their parts, not just phoning it in for the microphone.
So in this respect, you can't go wrong with Neuhold, because even if it's far from perfect performance-wise, it has plenty of "live" atmosphere.
Ian, if you don't mind 1950 mono sound, go for the Furtwängler Scala Ring. Just download it somewhere for free, it's public domain. It has far from perfect sound, but the performance has never been bettered.
Alternatively, you could get the Barenboim Bayreuth Ring. The best live version in modern sound, i.m.h.o.
But I fear we're heading for a repeat of an earlier thread about the Ring where the same issues were raised: http://www.gramophone.co.uk/forum/recordings/ring-des-nibelungen-recordings
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 1:46AM
#7
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
In my hi-end equipment, the recording sounded very poor, unconvincing and almost flat.
Sounds good enough in my low-end equipment, convincing and almost exalted.
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 5:42AM
#8
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
So, Guillaume (and other forum members), one may realise the difference the hi-fi equipment can make and the relativity of discussing about "reference" recordings.
By the way, the new Janowski cycle has been launched by Pentatone, on some impressive SACD, and it is a live performance too. As for the old one, it was a terrific overall balanced recording and performance, but with enough "holes", particularly in the vocal parts (the weakest Wotan, a frail Brunhilde compared to a heavy Sieglinde and so on).
One, who really wants to indulge in this huge and most monumental work, has to listen to as many as possible recordings, see some live performances (or DVDs), follow the libretto and read some introductory material...at least.
Parla
P.S.: I agree with 50m. We have already had several previous threads on the "Ring" in this forum.
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 12:16PM
#9
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
As a low wage earner I have spend carefully, and as most Wagner Ring cycles are nearer to a £100, which is too much for my pocket.
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 12:55PM
#10
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
I am not sure what websites you look at, Ian, but most Rings aren't near £100. As I said, the superb Janowksi is under £20. Haitink can be had £22; Furtwangler for £16. Even the celebrated Barenboim, which I can't stand (horrendous, boxy acoustics - sounds as if they are singing in a cave) is under £30..........
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 1:25PM
#11
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
I'm afraid Mr. Donut is absolutely right and spot on, once more, Ian. Spend wisely is a much "cheaper" and a more affordable choice than the lowest possible priced purchase.
By the way, when once I tried to discard my Neuhold "Ring", I found none to give me a single Euro. When, then, I tried to give it as a gift, none of those who may had a chance to understand such a complex and overlong work wanted to receive it. So, the 10 pounds you paid is a much larger deal for the seller rather than yourself as a buyer.
Parla
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 6:49PM
#12
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Just to point out that there is also DVD.
The Met/Levine and Kupfer Rings go for about £45. I have the Met version of Walkure which is good, though perhaps a little too polite .
The Copenhagen Ring , much admired by Gramophone (Alan Blyth I think), goes for a bit more.
I am hoping that one of the independent recording companies would think to record the Opera North Ring for a reasonable price. Not the most refined by any means, but what it lacks in this department it more than makes up for in heart and soul.
DSM
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 6:52PM
#13
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
I'm quite happy with my copy of the ring cycle. Thanks for caring though.
Ian.
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 7:53PM
#14
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Ignore the usual trolls, Ian, and their vile remarks. They never stop. They come to the internet to bait and patronise as they would love to do in real life, but never can.
Ring Cycle for a tenner and a good one at that - brilliant, why the heck not?
Sun, Apr 28 2013, 8:48PM
#15
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Ring Cycle for a tenner and a good one at that - brilliant, why the heck not?
Because he could have got Janowski for another six quid.
Is that the Gunther Neuhold cycle?
It appeard on the Brilliant Classics label here, dirt cheap. And it's pretty good alright. Plenty of theatre atmosphere, solid orchestral playing and a good, realistic recording.
Soloists are variable, though - ranging from surprisingly good to merely adequate or pretty bad. Things gets worse when you get further into the cycle: Rheingold is very good, then In Walküre (and the rest) you get a Brunnhilde with a nice enough voice, who just can't reach the top notes, joined in Siegfried and Götterdämmerung by 2 (!) Siegfrieds, both mediocre/bad. Once again shows that true Wagnerian voices are extremely sparse nowadays, and they won't turn up in a provincial theatre like Baden.