Ring Cycle at last

[Guest]

Having avoided most Wagner up to now, I am finally beginnig to succumb. After catching part of Opera North's Die Walkure a few nights ago, it's time to invest in some Ring CDs. So where do I start? Advice from all dedicated Wagnerians welcome re either Das Rheingold or the complete Ring. Modern stereo recordings only please, the cheaper the better! (Looks like a long wet summer ahead, so plenty of time hopefully for listening....)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

This fulfills your criteria: Digital Stereo, Cheap, excellent performances:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Ring-Nibelungen-Marek-Janowski/dp/B006XOBFJC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1340371032&sr=1-1

[vinteuil]

ferney got there before me - but I too was going to suggest Janowski. It's a marvellous set to start with.

I predict it won't be the last set you acquire. I somehow seem to have ended up with thirteen Rings on the shelves...

[amateur51]

This fulfills your criteria: Digital Stereo, Cheap, excellent performances:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Ring-...0371032&sr=1-1

A great suggestion, fhg

But you can get some cracking modernish recordings of the individual operas too, Doctor T. For example:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Die-Walk%C3%BCre-Birgit-Nilsson/dp/B00006469P/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1340373278&sr=1-1

I hope that you greatly enjoy exploring these marvellous works

[Stanley Stewart]

I'd advocate a learning curve on DVD, DrT. Shan't engage in self-indulgence re my collection but my favourite all-round performance of the complete Ring cycle is a 4 DVD set on Warner Classics - search around for competitive pricing - which was recorded at the Bayreuther Festspiele in June/July 1991/92. Widescreen and surround sound plus the distinct advantage of subtitles. Daniel Barenboim conducts Harry Kupfer's production with a distinguished cast which includes John Tomlinson in his prime (Wotan), Anne Evans (Brunhilde), Siegfried Jerusalem (Siegfried), Poul Elming (Siegmund) Nadine Secund (Sieglinde) and Matthias Holle(Hunding). DVD 1 has a bonus feature in which Daniel Barenboim and John Tomlinson discuss the production. Highly recommended - just for starters! I get the same frisson in writing about this experience as I would with any theatregoer visiting "Hamlet" for the first time.

[amateur51]

ferney got there before me - but I too was going to suggest Janowski. It's a marvellous set to start with.

I predict it won't be the last set you acquire. I somehow seem to have ended up with thirteen Rings on the shelves...

Oh bravo, vints - I have quite a few but not that many!

Thirteen may be an unlucky number .... you really ought to get another, y'know

[johnb]

I'd advocate a learning curve on DVD, DrT.

I second that suggestion and I find the subtitles especially helpful (rather than having to peer continuously at the minuscule print in a CD booklet).

The Janowski set is a tremendous bargain but (and this is a big 'but') it doesn't include any texts. In these operas the interaction of the text and the music is a vital ingredient so you would have to download the libretti from the web. This is one source but there must be many other sites.

You might also be interested in the ENO Opera Guides. Amazon only have two of the four but guides to all the four operas are available from the publishers, here, for £8.00 each.

[Petrushka]

Thoroughly agree with FHG, just what Dr T wants but do wish Acts 3 of both Walkure and Gotterdammerung were contained on one CD. This should have been perfectly possible. As it is the side breaks are a minor irritation of an excellent cycle.

I started out with Solti's Rheingold in 1970 when my bemused mother wondered why I wanted this Wagner stuff for Christmas. I was hooked immediately and never looked back. I now have Solti, Bohm, Keilberth, Furtwangler (Rome), Karajan and Janowski.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thoroughly agree with FHG, just what Dr T wants but do wish Acts 3 of both Walkure and Gotterdammerung were contained on one CD. This should have been perfectly possible. As it is the side breaks are a minor irritation of an excellent cycle.

- this is also true of the EMI Sawallisch set (which is very good, but with stage noises and recorded at quite a low level).

Thanks, johnb: I have the original Eurodisc set which does have texts ('tho' now useless as the spines collapsed years ago and if I try to read them all the pages drop to the floor in a heap!) The ENO booklets are a very good idea, and a lot of people like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagners-Ring-Nibelung-A-Companion/dp/0500281947/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340377141&sr=1-1

(Apologies for the Amazonian "plugs": other suppliers are available, but, as far as the Janowski set goes, I can't find cheaper.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm rather hooked on older Ring cycles - Furtwangler (Rome) and Solti (Vienna). The latter remains my favourite for many reasons.

[JimD]

On the subject of older recordings there are a couple on CMM. At one Euro per opera it gets cheaper as we speak:

http://www.classicalmusicmobile.com/67-wagner-richard

[amateur51]

On the subject of older recordings there are a couple on CCM. At one Euro per opera it gets cheaper as we speak:

http://www.classicalmusicmobile.com/67-wagner-richard

Wow JimD!

[mathias broucek]

Bohm Ring is good value at the moment

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003Y3MYYU/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_d0_g15_i5?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1WG6CBVC373BXAS5HW05&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

[Petrushka]

Bohm Ring is good value at the moment

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...pf_rd_i=468294

Incredible isn't it? When I bought the component parts of the Bohm Ring back in 1986 each one cost me £43 apart from Rheingold which was, I think, £21. Now here we are at rhe whole lot for £25!

Newbie collectors don't know how lucky they are. Or perhaps we were ripped off back then.

[Flosshilde]

On the subject of older recordings there are a couple on CCM. At one Euro per opera it gets cheaper as we speak:

http://www.classicalmusicmobile.com/67-wagner-richard

Except that they are mp3 downloads, not on CD