What opera have you been listening to, lately?

**Florestan** · September 10th, 2019, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by MAuer

Another audio Ring released around the same time on the EMI label (Haitink conducts) has Jerusalem as the two Siegfrieds and Goldberg as Siegmund. Eva Marton sings Brünnhilde, with Cheryl Studer as Sieglinde.

I have a bunch of rings, but I don't think I have that one. I really like Behrens as Brunnhilde though, especially in the Sawallisch Ring. Jeannie Altmeyer is AWESOME as Sieglinde in the Boulez Ring I am currently watching on DVD, and I am really blown away by the Sietmund of Peter Hofmann who on certain notes actually reminds me of Jonas Kaufmann.

**Florestan** · September 14th, 2019, 09:12 PM

This one again! IMO it is one of the best rings all around. Yes some are better for certain operas or certain singers, but if one were to have only a single ring set, this would be a very good one to have.

**Florestan** · September 18th, 2019, 01:12 AM

This is a very nice set (4 CDs) if you want your Ring fix and don't have time for the whole 15 hours. Nice intro/sampler for historic Rings too.

**Florestan** · September 25th, 2019, 01:46 AM

**Ann Lander (sospiro)** · September 28th, 2019, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by Florestan

Do you get the same enjoyment hearing it sung in English? Personally I prefer opera sung in its original language.

**Florestan** · September 28th, 2019, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Ann Lander (sospiro)

Do you get the same enjoyment hearing it sung in English? Personally I prefer opera sung in its original language.

Great question. I can answer that I listen to the original German a lot more, perhaps ten times more than this one, but I do like this one a lot. It is a very good performance (live) and it is nice to better be able to follow my place with the English.

**Florestan** · October 13th, 2019, 08:59 PM

Just finished this one. I did not find it all that interesting. Siegfried was perhaps the best of the operas on this set, then followed by Gotterdammerung, then Walkure, and least being Rheingold. Sound seemed rather thin on this set, especially Rheingold. I understand that there is a remastered set that I perhaps should have bought instead of this one, but can it be that much better?

I have a dozen Rings, so will be going through them to see what ones are at the upper end of my list. At present, Sawallisch 1989 is THE top of my list, followed by Levine 1989 (see the pattern here? Behrens and Behrens for Brunnhilde

). Oh, and Goodall is not to be rated among these as it is so different and I think ultimately is just a bit strange because of the wrong language--but I like it every now and then, moreso "then" since I just gave it two spins recently and the second spin became a bit tiresome.

Next up? Barenboim!

**Florestan** · October 15th, 2019, 01:30 AM

This one is pretty good. I think I'll rank it just below Levine. Mine is in a larger box set, so not sure what release I actually have.

Current rankings:

#1 Sawallisch 1989
#2 Levine 1989
#3 Barenboim

Will be listening to these next: Janowski (Dresden), Neuhold, Furtwangler (Italian Radio 1953), Krauss (Bayreuth 1953), Solti, and Swarowsky. We'll see what of these make my favorites list.

Next up? Neuhold, a budget cycle with pretty good ratings.

**Florestan** · October 18th, 2019, 03:05 AM

I went into this with great expectations but started losing interest. By the time I got well into Walkure I was wishing for the end of the world (i.e., end of the opera), but pained it out for all four operas. Needless to say, this one does not make my favorites list.

Next up: Krauss 1953 Beyreuth.

**Florestan** · October 19th, 2019, 11:11 PM

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! This is one of the best Rings I have ever heard on CD. However, because of the less than stellar sound quality (it's not really bad, and may be more of poor recording technique than overall sound quality), I and because Behrens is my main Brunnhllde, It will have to reside in second place after the 1989 Sawallisch set.

**Florestan** · October 22nd, 2019, 01:50 AM

Janowski Dresden Ring from this set:

Janowski's ring is fine but does not really do it for me. It seems to have too much "studio" and not enough life that one gets from a good live recording. So my favorites remain:
1. Sawallisch 1989
2. Krauss 1953
3. Levine 1989
4. Barenboim

Next up: Furtwangler 1953

**Adrian** · October 24th, 2019, 12:21 PM

Good gracious, this is a sit, being used to the spectacular Sutherland/ Horne recording on 3 CD'S this is 4.
No verdict on this moment .

**Florestan** · October 24th, 2019, 11:43 PM

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! This is one of the best Rings I have ever heard on CD. I think it will have to be ahead of Krauss in my favorites list.

Favorites:

1. Sawallisch 1989
2. Furtwangler 1953
3. Krauss 1953
4. Levine 1989
5. Barenboim

**Florestan** · October 26th, 2019, 02:11 PM

I cannot recommend this recording beyond a one-time listen.

**Florestan** · October 28th, 2019, 02:49 AM

This is a very good performance for a studio Ring. There are some fine vocalists. I guess it makes my favorites list. But i am really sold on live performances for the Ring and so stick with Sawallisch 1989 for my all time favorite (and especially for Behrens as Brunnhilde).

This particular Solti set is quite compact and very nicely packaged. I think it also gets most of the sound quality, the latest set not being much improvement over it, so I have heard.