Reply With QuoteThis 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.
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.Originally Posted by MAuer
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Do you get the same enjoyment hearing it sung in English? Personally I prefer opera sung in its original language.
"Every theatre is an insane asylum, but an opera theatre is the ward for the incurables."
FRANZ SCHALK, attributed, Losing the Plot in Opera: Myths and Secrets of the World's Great Operas
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Ann Lander (sospiro) liked this post
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!
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
MAuer liked this post
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
MAuer liked this post
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
Ann Lander (sospiro) liked this post
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
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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 .
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
Last edited by Florestan; October 25th, 2019 at 04:14 PM. Reason: Corrected from wrong image
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
I cannot recommend this recording beyond a one-time listen.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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.
"Ah,non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fiore." --Bellini, La Sonnambula (also written on his tomb).
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