Die Walküre - Kaufmann/Gergiev

[Barbirollians]

... on the strength of which, corroborating 100% karafan's comments earlier on this thread, I ordered it instantly.

Any chance you could copy and paste the Times review? I don't pay to scale Mr Murdoch's wall...

Sorry nor do I it was in the paper edition . I will see if I still have it and give you the gist if so

[Resurrection Man]

I do have the paper copy....how much can I put here without breaching copyright....never was any good at precis!

[BBMmk2]

The Gergiev, as it sounds rather good, I might look fiuther, maybe presto, perhaps, as I am rather a fan. I still find Runnicles rather offish in a way.

[Mr Pee]

The Blu Rays are available from Sainsbury's website for £13.99 each, while the box set is £78.99.

Incidentally, the box set also includes a 2 hr documentary about this staging of the ring, "Wagner's Dream", which is also available separately. Of course, if you aren't interested in the documentary, it makes sense just to buy the individual operas.

Barenboim's Ring from Bayreuth, with John Tomlinson and Anne Evans is also coming out on Blu Ray next month. The best price so far is MDT where it is available for £55.95

I watched the documentary last night, after receiving it from Amazon yesterday. I found it absolutely fascinating and it has certainly whetted my appetite for the full cycle. What a technical challenge that set is- and challlenging for the cast as well. But some of the stage images it created looked remarkable.

I was a bit surprised how little we heard from Terfel in the film- a few words as he made his way on stage, and that was it. I'd like to have heard a bit more about his views of the production; but other than that, a fascinating insight.

[gradus]

Ref the Wesendonck songs CDR played Träume and I thought it started wonderfully with soft covered singing but didn't care for the full heft of his voice against Mottl's scoring, I prefer a mezzo but there's no denying that he is a phenominally gifted singer.

[rank_and_file]

[QUOTE=Karafan](his cries of "Wälse!" would send a tingle down a dead man's spine);QUOTE]

I am an admirer of Kaufmann, but for him to show off his lung capacity as only Melchior before him could do with the very long held and extended "Valse" is not as Wagner demanded. Melchior was criticised for it, and Kaufmann should know better.

The Wesendonck lieder is written for female voice and piano, and I never think men should attempt the complete cycle. Goodness knows, he has more than enough talent to sing something else to fill up this new Decca CD. I for one will not be contributing to his royalties this time.

[Barbirollians]

rank and file I think you would be missing out . The Wesendonck Lieder are very striking - it simply had never occurred to me that a man would sing them but I enjoyed them a great deal especially Traume .

For all the lapse of taste as you see it in Valse the rest of the disc is absolutely stunning . Wagner sung as one rarely hears the like .

[rank_and_file]

Barbirollians

I can well believe the rest of Kaufmann’s new CD is excellent - he seems to get better and better. I only hope his voice is able to last the distance as he has taken up singing heavy Wagner roles - but he is certainly at real heldentenor level now judging from this and earlier CDs of his.

[Karafan]

I saw him described as being at "the moment when the freshness of youth meets the wisdom of experience" and that sums it up for me. That, and the fact that his range is so wide and the baritonal edge really adds something quite unique and distinctive to his splendidly agile lyric tenor.

[Stephen Smith]

http://www.qobuz.com/album/valery-gergiev-anja-kampe-jonas-kaufmann-rene-pape-nina-stemme-wagner-die-walkure/0822231852728

I am just about to post in the Bargains thread, Available as a FLAC download at Qobuz, on offer, at €7.99. I have downloaded all three Acts, complete with 38 page PDF booklet. I noticed this last night.
(Sorry, I have yet to master the art, in threads, of posting a link) (Edit - I've tried this) (Further edit -thanks - it worked!)

[Thropplenoggin]

I am just about to post in the Bargains thread, Available as a FLAC download at Qobuz, on offer, at €7.99. I have downloaded all three Acts, complete with 38 page PDF booklet. I noticed this last night. (Sorry, I have yet to master the art, in threads, of posting a link)

In the icons menu bar, click on the globe with the chain links next to the envelope icon. A pop-up window will appear. Simply copy and paste the URL address into this pop-up window.

You can also copy and paste a URL address (the "http://www..." bit that appears at the top of your web browser) directly into your message.

[Resurrection Man]

http://www.qobuz.com/album/valery-ge.../0822231852728
I am just about to post in the Bargains thread, Available as a FLAC download at Qobuz, on offer, at €7.99. I have downloaded all three Acts, complete with 38 page PDF booklet. I noticed this last night.
(Sorry, I have yet to master the art, in threads, of posting a link) (Edit - I've tried this) (Further edit -thanks - it worked!)

Many many thanks, Stephen, for the link.

EDIT: Out of curiosity, has anyone found a way of easily ordering the tracks into the correct sequence in iTunes? They seem spread (the CD source presumably) over 9 of 11, 10 of 11, 11 of 11 then 1 of 12 (or something like that) and so ordering them by that column gives a nonsense. Trying to order by name severely tests iTunes knowledge of Roman numerals. And so it goes ii, iii, iv, ix, v

The only way round it is to rename certain tracks such as ix becomes viiii. That tells iTunes who's boss!

[duncan]

As an aside , Kaufmann's wagner recital disc is stupendous.

I've listened to this a few times now and pretty much agree with this. The held note on "Wälse!" does seem a small lapse in taste but is a minor thing compared to the overall magnificence of the performances. Picking another nit, the 'bleeding chunks' seem a little brief: under 4 minutes ("Inbrunst im Herzen") just isn't Wagnerian timescale! The Wesendonck lieder were the highlight for me, lovely singing and seemed completely appropriate for a Tenor or perhaps this Tenor.


I'm trying hard not to be tempted by the Gergiev Walküre even though it is likely to the best cast Ring of our time. The Mariinsky cycle at the ROH was a disgrace and an insult to the audience who paid very high prices to see a shambles on stage. I swore I'd have nothing to do with him after this!

[DublinJimbo]

EDIT: Out of curiosity, has anyone found a way of easily ordering the tracks into the correct sequence in iTunes? They seem spread (the CD source presumably) over 9 of 11, 10 of 11, 11 of 11 then 1 of 12 (or something like that) and so ordering them by that column gives a nonsense. Trying to order by name severely tests iTunes knowledge of Roman numerals. And so it goes ii, iii, iv, ix, v

The only way round it is to rename certain tracks such as ix becomes viiii. That tells iTunes who's boss!

Everything sorted itself just fine with my download. Check that the correct info is in the tags for 'Disc Number'. There are four discs, with 13, 11, 9 and 12 tracks respectively. If using List view, sort by 'Album' and things should fall into place.

[akiralx]

Aaaah...

http://www.classicstoday.com/review/once-over-lightly-through-the-magic-fire/