Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Mon, May 6 2013, 9:13AM
#2
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Quite. If you don't like the discussion, don't take part.
Mon, May 6 2013, 11:27AM
#3
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
So, going back to the original topic, what do people think about the Karajan Ring? It has had really bad publicity over the years but listening to it I'm amazed by the orchestral playing, the orchestral sound. That and slow speeds in places bring real magic to the score which I haven't heard in other recordings. The singing is variable, but for the orchestral playing alone I think it's well worth a listen. If you don't want to buy the CD it's available on Spotify amongst other.
Mon, May 6 2013, 11:41AM
#4
I didn't question the quality
I didn't question the quality of the thread, nor am I tired of the discussion. I just contest the purpose of another extensive thread on Wagner and particularly the "Ring". Anyway, it should be the centenary...
Ganymede, I can share your excitement for Karajan's Ring, but as an alternative: as the "most refined" one. The maestro opted for very clean, almost lean musical lines, to the effect that some reviewers and critics spoke about a Chamber Music sort of "Ring". Singing is not always at top level, but, in some critical roles, he is blessed to have some very beautiful voices. Recording is much more than adequate.
Who cares about the upcoming (second) Thielemann's "Ring" (from Vienna Staatsoper), on DG? What else is in store?
Parla
Mon, May 6 2013, 10:42PM
#5
RE: I didn't question the quality
Thank you! Well, I agree with your words, Parla, it does sound very exciting as a Ring, it does bring a new perspective, especially when one has listened to the other "standard" versions.
Who cares about the upcoming (second) Thielemann's "Ring" (from Vienna Staatsoper), on DG? What else is in store?
Parla
Not for me. I have his Bayreuth Ring and find it quite boring in terms of conducting. The one I look forward to is Janowski's. I believe Rheingold is about to appear with Pentatone.
Tue, May 7 2013, 2:28AM
#6
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
You're right, Ganymede. "Rheingold" by Janowski comes to UK next week. I trust it's going to be at the usual standards of Pentatone's productions. It looks promising enough, anyway.
Parla
Tue, May 7 2013, 10:29AM
#7
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Well I finally reached the end of Wagner's Ring Cycle, and enjoyed every second of it. It must be impossible to listen to it in one hearing.
Tue, May 7 2013, 10:33AM
#8
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
You did incredibly well to listen to it all, Ian. I could never have coped with the whole thing so quickly. I had to build it up piece by piece, opera by opera. I had to feel as if I really knew what I was listening to until I could move on.......
Tue, May 7 2013, 6:26PM
#9
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
It amazes me how, after years of listening to and watching it, the Ring seems to fly by. Only Act 1 of Siegfried has its longeurs to my ears, mainly due to the endless recaping of the story.
Tue, May 7 2013, 6:39PM
#10
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
Well, I had no choice but to get to know the Ring bit by bit. There was no complete recording when I started. First Solti's Rheingold in 1959, then a few year's later Siegfried, then a couple more years Götterdämmerung. In the meantime Leinsdorf's (generally undervalued) Walküre had appeared so I knew the whole Ring before finally Solti's Walküre was issued. Six years in total. Perhaps I was lucky having time to absorb the operas one by one and no choice in the matter.
I can't say it flies by for me Tagalie, but yes, parts of Act I of Siegfried are heavy going, though I love the scene between the Wanderer and Siegfried (with Hotter of course!).
Incidentally, there must be some interesting background to the Leinsdorf Walküre recording. Decca recorded it but it's hard to imagine they were well pleased with the intruder into their Ring cycle. Anyone know anything about the history?
Chris
Tue, May 7 2013, 9:31PM
#11
RE: Wagner's Ring Cycle.
It amazes me how, after years of listening to and watching it, the Ring seems to fly by. Only Act 1 of Siegfried has its longeurs to my ears, mainly due to the endless recaping of the story.
I have to say I agree - I find Siegfried heavy going unless Mime is sung really well but as for the rest I never really catch myself looking at my watch. Rheingold almost seems too short! What I love about Walkyrie is that one starts by recognising the more spectauclar moments but as one listens to the piece more and more one realises that it is the quieter moments that actually are the most interesting, both in terms of character development and characterisation... and the use of leitfmotif becomes a bit like trainspotting...
Gotterdammerung - well sometimes I just wish Siegfried would drop dead so we could move on but gain there are so many wonderful short scenes.
I know this will get me shot in some quarters by I also find Parsifal moves very quickly when I listen.
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"So what?" - So that, BrendanC! We managed to have another 50 plus posts by simply repeating ourselves and restating the obvious.
Parla