Original CD version of Solti's Das Rheingold

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When the Solti Ring cycle was first issued on CD in the 1980s, I bought the four boxes (all at full price) but lost them in an early 90s burglary. When I I replaced them, it was the "dehissed" version. Unfortunately, the first opera required more dehissing than the later ones, and I found the result less than satisfactory.

It sounds scrawnier than either the LP or original CD, though I have no really objective frame of reference to confirm this. I would like to get hold of a copy of the original CD pressing of Das Rheingold. It was on 3 discs.

[HighlandDougie]

When the Solti Ring cycle was first issued on CD in the 1980s, I bought the four boxes (all at full price) but lost them in an early 90s burglary. When I I replaced them, it was the "dehissed" version. Unfortunately, the first opera required more dehissing than the later ones, and I found the result less than satisfactory.

It sounds scrawnier than either the LP or original CD, though I have no really objective frame of reference to confirm this. I would like to get hold of a copy of the original CD pressing of Das Rheingold. It was on 3 discs.

Not sure if it’s the version you are looking for (3CDs, not 2, but same cover/appearance as 1984 issue) but Amazon.UK has a used copy for about £7 (including postage). Ebay has a copy of the 1984 issue for rather more (just under £16).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Not sure if it’s the version you are looking for (3CDs, not 2, but same cover/appearance as 1984 issue) but Amazon.UK has a used copy for about £7 (including postage). Ebay has a copy of the 1984 issue for rather more (just under £16).

[Conchis]

When the Solti Ring cycle was first issued on CD in the 1980s, I bought the four boxes (all at full price) but lost them in an early 90s burglary. When I I replaced them, it was the "dehissed" version. Unfortunately, the first opera required more dehissing than the later ones, and I found the result less than satisfactory.

It sounds scrawnier than either the LP or original CD, though I have no really objective frame of reference to confirm this. I would like to get hold of a copy of the original CD pressing of Das Rheingold. It was on 3 discs.

You should probably find it fairly easy to get hold of this.

I picked up the 1997 'de-hissed' remaster a few years back (for all of twelve quid - new!) but, for sentimental reasons, I hung on to my 80s box as well (and is't there something a bit egocentric about a colour Solti next to a sepia Wagner?!). Years since I've listened but I do recall the 80s set as being very hissy indeed - the Siegfried in particular sounded like a long night in a snake pit. However, now that analogue is king again and noise reduction is considered politically incorrect, it's probably the 'go to' version for many.

Strangely enough, a friend of mine had the equiavalent cassette version, issued in the 70s. As I recall, they sounded better than any CD version!

[LHC]

If you have a blu ray player, you could also consider the single disc blu ray of the complete Ring cycle. It is, by some way, the best sounding digital release of the Solti Ring. As this extract from a review in the US Hi Fi magazine, the Absolute Sound, acknowledges:

Previous CD releases of the Solti Ring have been marred by a steely hardness of the voices and orchestra primarily in the high frequencies. Blu-ray audio largely resolves that problem and preserves the unique spatial signature and balances between soloists and orchestra heard on the original British Decca pressings, but with more fine instrumental detail.

[Bryn]

I have what I think it is the 'original' (actually the 1997) CD version and that in the Wagner/Solti box issued in 2012 (not sure if it's the 2012 re-mastering or not, though I have seen it claimed that the 1997 transfer is what you get in the 2012 big box.). I really cannot justify the outlay for the Blu-ray option. Decca offer suspiciously little information re. the transfers in the big box. Only the publication years of the original LP issues is given.

[I have not done an A-B test, but I do note that the timings stated for many tracks vary by 1 second between the 1997 boxes and the 2012 big box. That said, EAC gives exactly the same duration (down to two decimal places of fractions of a second) for tracks from each set. They share the same peak and RMS dynamic levels, too.]

[Bryn]

When the Solti Ring cycle was first issued on CD in the 1980s, I bought the four boxes (all at full price) but lost them in an early 90s burglary. When I I replaced them, it was the "dehissed" version. Unfortunately, the first opera required more dehissing than the later ones, and I found the result less than satisfactory.

It sounds scrawnier than either the LP or original CD, though I have no really objective frame of reference to confirm this. I would like to get hold of a copy of the original CD pressing of Das Rheingold. It was on 3 discs.

Used copies of the 1984 transfers can be found on amazon.co.uk at prices from £5.21 plus p&p.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I ordered a set, which arrived at the weekend. The foam insert had deteriorated and had welded itself to the discs. I soaked the CDs in warm, soapy water, but it resulted in the loss of some of the printed "label".

Fortunately, the discs have played well so far.

The really good news is the sound quality, which is fuller than in the dehissed version of the later release. The little bit of extra hiss is hardly noticeable.

[pastoralguy]

The foam insert had deteriorated and had welded itself to the discs.

I read letters in the Gramophone regarding this very problem. I subsequently went through my older boxed sets and removed all these foam inserts. One or two had deteriorated but, fortunately, hadn't damaged any discs.

If I ever won the lottery, I'd love to buy a friend of mine an SACD set of these classic recordings but they are REALLY expensive! One day...

[Bryn]

I read letters in the Gramophone regarding this very problem. I subsequently went through my older boxed sets and removed all these foam inserts. One or two had deteriorated but, fortunately, hadn't damaged any discs.

If I ever won the lottery, I'd love to buy a friend of mine an SACD set of these classic recordings but they are REALLY expensive! One day...

Surely it's worth waiting for Blu-ray audio versions. That of Solti's Ring is pretty impressive.

[Bryn]

Notwithstanding my previous post, I ordered a cheap used set of the 1984 CDs (£6.47 including p&p). The set arrived today. There was a foam insert but fortunately it had not deteriorated. I removed it. There was a couple of bonuses inside the slip-case and jewel case; page 20 of the September 8th 1997 edition of L'Humanite with a tribute to Solti taking up most of the page, and a CD-R of "Wagner: L'Or du Rhin" read by Gérard Courchelle.

Not sure when I will get round to comparing the transfer to later re-masterings.

[Braunschlag]

If you have a blu ray player, you could also consider the single disc blu ray of the complete Ring cycle. It is, by some way, the best sounding digital release of the Solti Ring. As this extract from a review in the US Hi Fi magazine, the Absolute Sound, acknowledges:

Browsing through the Amazon review of the Blu ray version (which I have) there’s are rather puzzling point made which I don’t think is made elsewhere -
‘We are told in the accompanying booklet that as some of the original tapes were in a bad condition that sometimes other takes have been used. On how well you know this recording it can be a "spot the difference". One obvious change is in act one of Die Walkure. When Hunding takes Sieglinde into the bedroom, in the original, you hear him shooting the bolt of the door lock. In the re-mastering its not heard.’

I’ve not checked it myself yet but is this a correct observation?

[BBMmk2]

What's the current issue like. Looks like a bargain on Amazon?

[Braunschlag]

What's the current issue like. Looks like a bargain on Amazon?

It’s excellent - but then I have the deluxe edition in the massive box. These are the ones I have ripped for my portable A&K player and they sound fine to me.
I have been through every major issue over the last 40 odd years including the first CD set (hissy as a snake pit), then the ‘slimline’ and, presumably ‘Cedared’ version (how many of us bought that when Brittania were selling them as their introduction to a subscription?). Then the big box limited edition from Decca which I’d say is the best sound even though there have been many articles asking exactly what they remastered, and the source of the master tape. And finally the separate Blu Ray box (it was going cheap so I got it anyway to save spoiling the big box set.
To top it all I also have a complete first pressing LP set of the cycle with all the booklets and paperwork, worth it for those 12” booklets and the listening guide which was only issued with Rheingold. Although I’ve now parted company with my turntable the vinyl set was a great sound indeed, but not necessarily superior to the most recent issue.
Personally, I thought the first CD issue a noisy affair and that background hash was irritating.

[Conchis]

What's the current issue like. Looks like a bargain on Amazon?

Which issue do you mean - the Blu-Ray or the CD?