Wagner's Ring
Wed, Jul 18 2012, 6:57PM
Sadly I recently lost a friend who had just been to NY to see his 48th Ring cycle. Over the last few years he had tried, and unfortunately failed, to persuade me to listen to or go and see these operas. Twenty years ago I had gone to see Das Rheingold and did not particularly enjoy the interpretation of the opera and this had put me off listening to or going to see them ever since. I think most of that was down to not understanding the cycle itself.I was looking to read up on the cycle (not in minute details) but to a level of being able to understand and appreciate the operas individually and as a whole.What I'm looking for are recommended recording of these operas as well as books that will assist me to understand them.Regards. GS
Thu, Jul 19 2012, 12:32PM
#2
RE: Wagner's Ring
I am hoping that a recording company will put Opera-North's Ring cycle on CD. I recently attended Die Walkure in Leeds Town Hall and it was outstanding.
Thu, Jul 19 2012, 9:55PM
#3
RE: Wagner's Ring
My condolences on your loss.
I've been working on Wagner for 30 years or so, and can recommend the following:
Solti's "Ring" cycle on CD
Levine's "Ring" cycle on DVD (Metropolitan Opera, late 1980's -- traditional staging, i.e., you get to see very much what Wagner intended)
"Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung: A Companion" -- book by Stewart Spencer and Barry Millington. Contains libretti and English translations of all 4 operas, with keys to leitmotifs, plus plot synopses and a few critical articles.
For further reference, Ernest Newman's "The Wagner Operas" is still pretty good despite its age (1949). Best of luck!
Thu, Jul 19 2012, 10:22PM
#4
RE: Wagner's Ring
Dealing with Wagner for years and years, I have to state from the beginning that there is no shortcut to his music (his Gesamtwerke, total works, as he called his "Operas"). You have to indulge in his music from the very first works to the last, so that you may start comprehending his musical language, his style and, most importantly, his holistic view of the music work and its function.
Reading material will help too, but you have to expose yourself to repeated listening, to attend live performances or watch relevant DVDs.
As for the "Ring" (it is considered by some scholars as the Wagner's opus for the Grand Public), Solti on the historic recording of Decca constitutes not only the best achievement on any large scale work, but, arguably, the best recording of all times. However, almost every single recording of the "Ring" is significant from different angles of penetrating this huge in concept and realisation work of Music. At least, some of the old Beureuth (Keilberth, Bohm), of the newer Janowski, Barenboim or even Simone Young are useful to help you somehow in your quest.
From DVDs, apart from the very fine Levine one (mentioned by mussessein), Boulez and Barenboim give a more modern/contemporary view of this multi-faceted work.
The reading material mentioned above are already enough.
Good hunting and exploration in a never ending research,
Parla
Fri, Jul 20 2012, 9:37AM
#5
RE: Wagner's Ring
Wagner can be an awful bore at times and then he can be absolutely brilliant. Like Beethoven symphoniies, I wouldn't go for a complete cycle (as you are unlikely to find one that is great throughout and you will miss so much of what else is on offer) but individual recordings of the single operas. I would start at the begining and work through SLOWLY picking each opera for a reason. I picked Solti's Das Rheingold for Flagsted. Furtwangler's Die Walkure for Furtwangler and Janowski's Siegried because I wanted a quieter more considered approach to this racket of an opera. Haven't got as far as Gotterdammerung yet. I also tried to pick newer recordings as I worked through the operas, so I will be looking for a post 1980's Gotterdammerung pretty soon.
Fri, Jul 20 2012, 10:00PM
#6
RE: Wagner's Ring
Parla -- I keep being surprised that Boulez recorded the Ring. What do you like about his version?
Fri, Jul 20 2012, 11:12PM
#7
RE: Wagner's Ring
His (Boulez) precision, his sobriety (which is almost provocative for such works of unreserved passion), his almost lack of "personal features" and some good to very good voices.
As I said above, mussessein, every "Ring" recording has something to offer. The work is so complex and huge in every aspect, so that almost every new performance is welcome. For example, I gave a shot to the newest "Ring" by Sebastian Weigle (on Oehms), from his live performances in Frankfurt. I was surprised that this very good German label decided to release another cycle of this enormous work, immediately after the quite good recording of Simone Young from Hamburg. However, having bought and listened, to some considerable extent, Die Walkure and Siegfried, I can see some other aspects, layers and nuances of the work being explored, new shades being revealed, old riddles being dealt with, while the drama and passion have been sensibly worked out.
So, there is and will be always more to (re)discover in the "Ring".
Parla
Sat, Jul 21 2012, 9:34AM
#8
RE: Wagner's Ring
Hi graemes,
I hope you have found enough help from the comments so far. I have just one suggestion to add. As I'm sure you know, the Leitmotifs are very important in Wagner, and especially in The Ring. Though several of the books mentioned give musical examples and descriptions, these can be rather tedious to get into.
It's often forgotten that with the Solti recording of The Ring, Decca issued a set of LPs (now available on two CDs, in which Deryck Cooke discussed these Leitmotifs and their significance - with recorded illustrations mostly from the complete recording. This is a very helpful introduction - and you can find the two CDs for about £10. Well worth it in my opinion.
Sat, Jul 21 2012, 11:58AM
#9
RE: Wagner's Ring
Parla, Chris and Doc B (as I fondly still think of him) all make some very sound points about the Ring. There simply isn't one recorded cycle, live or studio, which doesn't have at least a few flies in the ointment (e.g. I am listening as I type to the Bohm Rheingold, which is a superb reading but unfortunately means I have to put up with Theo Adam). Although I have quite a number of cycles, I can count on the fingers of one tooth the number of times I've played one as a cycle. Doc is right - and I also agree with him about Beethoven symphonies - that you will get as much out of well chosen separate versions as you will from a complete cycle.
And this leads on to Parla's point that you should listen to and see as many versions as possible. Each has something to offer and invariably you will discover something new in each, however experienced you become. As Parla excellently puts it "new shades being revealed, old riddles being dealt with". His point about the Boulez version is also one I agree with - Boulez doesn't impose himself on the work and the Chereau production is my favourite by some way on Dvd.
I heartily endorse Chris's recommendation of the Deryck Cooke survey of the themes and motifs of the Ring. It really is a fascinating and enlightening recording.
Sorry to end on a negative note, but has there ever been a worse Wotan on record than Theo Adam?
Mon, Jul 23 2012, 4:05PM
#10
RE: Wagner's Ring
For a book about the Ring, try George Bernard Shaw - The Perfect Wagnerite. You may well disagree with every word, but it will make you think, and Shaw knew not only his Wagner (he heard Mahler conduct the Ring in London) but his music. Also, it dates from a time when Wagner's was still "The Music of the Future" and complete recordings were not even a glint in Fred Gaisberg's eye.
Mon, Jul 30 2012, 6:59PM
#11
RE: Wagner's Ring
I second the recommendation of Shaw's Perfect Wagnerite - however, for a good coverage of plot, characters and leitmotivs, I recommend this book, which I read as a boy; it contains musical examples for the motivs: Aylmer Buesst
The Nibelung's Ring
Amazon has a cheap copy of this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Wagner-Nibelungs-ring-act-/dp/B00086PRE0...
Robert Donington's Wagner's Ring and its symbols is very stimulating, if you appreciate psychological analysis -Amazon have some cheap used copies.
Mon, Aug 6 2012, 12:20PM
#12
RE: Wagner's Ring
Just finished the Ring under Solti,remastered and purchased from Presto opera sale.
A jewel for collectors.
Sounds better than it ever was.
If you do not have it, buy now.
Mon, Aug 6 2012, 11:28PM
#13
RE: Wagner's Ring
Adrian, you mean the edition with the release number 4555552 on Decca, remastered in 1997. Better than before indeed.
If you were impressed by that, be prepared for the new Deluxe limited edition of Solti's Ring, newly remastered (again), in individually numbered boxes of around 6.5 kg each (!), containing:
- 14 CDs of the original recording by VPO under Solti.
- 2CDs of the introduction of Deryck Cooke + the relevant book.
- 1DVD of the documentary of BBC on Gotterdammerrung sessions.
- 1CD on Wagner Overtures, etc., recorded during the Ring sessions.
- John Culshaw's account of the entire Ring project (in the form of a booklet).
- 1Blue ray disc containing the complete Ring as lossless 24-bit files.
- 1 Special facsimile of one's of Solti's working score on the "Ride of the Valkuries".
- 5 Art prints of recording session photos. Plus some more.
The price is way off the budget line, but for all these, it is for serious consideration as the most significant collectible edition.
Parla
Tue, Aug 7 2012, 4:20AM
#14
RE: Wagner's Ring RE: Wagner's Ring
Parla,
I do know this item was coming but I do have the de luxe edition on record in a wooden box (from way back) and I do have the first release on CD from Decca.
This time I did buy again the lose items , each opera in his box.
Adrian.
Tue, Aug 7 2012, 2:29PM
#15
RE: Wagner's Ring
O.K., Adrian, you are well equipped. I don't know whether this old "record wooden box" contains all these "extras", but I trust it should be impressive and comprehensive enough.
However, we both miss the unique transfer to SACD by Esoteric, which was issued in limited individually numbered "deluxe" boxes, going up to the exorbitant amount of $800-1000, before they were sold out.
Parla
Hi graemes, sorry to hear about your friend!
I hesitated to post this reply because my recommendation is not substantiated by my own experience.
However, regarding books the renowned German music journalist Joachim Kaiser recommends "Richards Wagner's Music Dramas" by Carl Dahlhaus.
You may think of Kaiser what you will, but he is a very erudite man and has a profound knowledge and understanding of classical music and its composers. I found some of his work highly illuminating.
I will definitely buy this book myself in the near future and may post a short review once I'm through reading it but don't hold your breath.
Best
Markus