Wagner, Richard (1813 - 1883)

[Petrushka]

I've decided it's time I finally got round to giving my Karajan Der Ring des Nibelungen a spin and also that I make use for the first time of the Dover full scores that have been gathering dust on my shelves for years.

I've decided on a disk a day. See you in a couple of weeks...

The best way is to listen to an Act a day (apart from Rheingold, obviously).

[jayne lee wilson]

Richard Wagner
Parsifal Suite (Constr. A. Gourlay). Orchid Classics. 107
Music Arranger: Andrew Gourlay
London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrew Gourlay

An extract from this was broadcast by Martin Handley on Sunday Breakfast this morning. I'm not a big fan of Parsifal, alas, so not in a postion to judge the appropriateness of such an endeavour.

There is I believe, a 'symphony' of music from the Ring - but so far I have not pursued that (although the Ring is the where my Wagner fandom resides).

At least two on record.... Lorin Maazel's "Ring Without Words" and Henk de Vlieger's "An Orchestral Adventure"....
De Vlieger has also offered Parsifal a similar treatment "An Orchestral Quest".....

[RichardB]

I've decided on a disk a day. See you in a couple of weeks...

I've tried to do it like that but I usually end up doing more, getting drawn completely into it, with that same recording too. Having tried a few of the others I keep coming back to it. For me, very few opera recordings have such a perfect balance between voices and orchestra, I mean perfect for Wagner, or the way I want to hear Wagner anyway. I once listened to it all in two days, which I can only describe as a strange kind of trip.

[teamsaint]

God go with you. Watch out for dwarves, giants and dragons...

I doubt my own ability to deal with Wagner , even without the chaps you mention weighing in……

Perhaps I shall dig out some discs and devise a tactic….

[smittims]

Have you tried 'bleeding chunks', teamsaint? For many, that's been the traditional route.

For me, I jumped in at the deep end, taping the Ring from Bayreuth inthe '60s, having read 'Ring Resounding' and being unable to afford the only recording then available .

[Ein Heldenleben]

I've tried to do it like that but I usually end up doing more, getting drawn completely into it, with that same recording too. Having tried a few of the others I keep coming back to it. For me, very few opera recordings have such a perfect balance between voices and orchestra, I mean perfect for Wagner, or the way I want to hear Wagner anyway. I once listened to it all in two days, which I can only describe as a strange kind of trip.

I bought the Karajan ring when it first came out on vinyl and I now have it on CD. I came to the conclusion it was the best recorded opera I’d ever heard . Better than the Decca Ring with so much more detail audible in the orchestral balance and a real sense of having a orchestra and performers in front of you rather than a gorgeous wash of sound. Once listened to all of Gotterdamerung on a Sunday at home and the last ten minutes were accompanied by a violent thunder storm.

[teamsaint]

Have you tried 'bleeding chunks', teamsaint? For many, that's been the traditional route.

For me, I jumped in at the deep end, taping the Ring from Bayreuth inthe '60s, having read 'Ring Resounding' and being unable to afford the only recording then available .

I have the Karajan cycle from that huge DG set, so am going to try the " Disc a Day " approach . Apart from anything else, it seems a shame not to have a stab at such a well thought of set of recordings.
I did enjoy the DVD of Rheingold from that box, esp Peter Schreier , which it turns out is available to watch on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFCFq6WWmGE

[Bryn]

I have the Karajan cycle from that huge DG set, so am going to try the " Disc a Day " approach . Apart from anything else, it seems a shame not to have a stab at such a well thought of set of recordings.
I did enjoy the DVD of Rheingold from that box, esp Peter Schreier , which it turns out is available to watch on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFCFq6WWmGE

If you have the big Decca and DG Karajan box then surely a disc a day for The Ring is the whole work in a day. After all, it's all there on a single Blu-ray disc (which I must admit I have yet to spin, despite having got the set at the time of its release*.).

*A situation which I intend to resolve shortly.

[smittims]

Happy listening, Bryn; it's treat to hear the whole of 'Rheingold' and the prologue and Act One of Gotterdammerung without changing the disc; thatis, if your social life allows you to be uninterrupted for that length of time!

I bought the Blu-ray Solti Ring without realising it; I thought the attractive, chunky box was a set of CDs. When I got home and found only one disc I was ashamed to take it back on the grounds that I didn't have a blu-ray player, so I decided it was time to get one. The book contains the libretto, in my opinion a poor substitute for Peggie Cochrane's splendid translation that appeared with the original LPs.

That said, I wonder how many people have bought the blu-ray editions of works which don't need a disc of that length: the Beethoven quartets or sonatas, for instance.

[Joseph K]

My way into The Ring was listening to the Solti boxed set along with the books by Rudolph Sabor which I had taken out of the library at uni - these are translations of the libretti along with commentary and descriptions of all the Leitmotifs and signals as to their appearance in the operas. Unfortunately the boxed set of all these books is now going for over a grand on amazon - but individually they're not as expensive (although perhaps still prohibitively so).

Much as I'd like to get more involved in The Ring, I value my practice schedule more than to disrupt it. A disk a day is enough for me...

[smittims]

Yes, Sabor's books are invaluable, the introductory volume containing much fascinating detail about the origin of the work.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The best way is to listen to an Act a day (apart from Rheingold, obviously).

That’s how the BBC broadcast it in the 1970s. Very effective, but it took 10 weeks!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Rattle lead the OAE in Das Rheingold at the Proms in 2004. Not revelatory as I recall.

A HIPP really should be recorded at the Festspielhaus, which makes one of the 1950s live recordings a good choice. Krauss for a great cast, great conducting, very limited sound but cheap; Keilberth for a great cast, good conducting, excellent sound for the time but expensive.

I was at that Prom, but the Guardian critic clearly wasn’t, for on the following day, the review stated unequivocally that the strings played with sparing vibrato. It was so unsparing that it could be seen in abundance from the highest seats in the ROH (where I was), and I was delighted not be subjected to Wagner in handcuffs.

[gurnemanz]

My first Parsifal was the the Boulez Prom in 1972. They spread it over two nights, not consecutive. I had the unusual experience of attending alone since I had not yet met my wife and no friend or family member was interested. I stood in the Arena for the whole show, thoroughly riveted by it all.

[gradus]

My first Parsifal was the the Boulez Prom in 1972. They spread it over two nights, not consecutive. I had the unusual experience of attending alone since I had not yet met my wife and no friend or family member was interested. I stood in the Arena for the whole show, thoroughly riveted by it all.

I've always liked the Boulez recording of Parsifal although I didn't see him conduct it live.