Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
Artist: Astrid Varnay, Bayreuth Festival Chorus, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Clemens Krauss, Erich Witte, Gerhard Stolze, Gustav Neidlinger, Hans Hotter, Hermann Uhde, Hetty Plümacher, Ira Malaniuk, Josef Greindl, Ludwig Weber, Maria von Ilosvay, Paul Kuen, Ramon Vinay, Regina Resnik, Rita Streich, Wolfgang Windgassen
Label: Opera d’Oro
UPC: 723721192952
Catalog ID: OPD 1500
Hans Hotter, Astrid Varnay, Ramón Vinay, Josef Greindl, Regina Resnik,Wolfgang Windgassen, Gustav Neidlinger, Ira Malaniuk, Ludwig Weber, Paul Kuen, Gerhard Stolze, Hermann Uhde, Maria von Ilosvay, Hetty Plümacher, Erich Witte, Rita Streich, et al., vocal soloists/ Bayreuth Festival Orchestra & Chorus/Clemens Krauss, conductor
WAGNER: Der Ring des Nibelungen (complete cycle)
Unavailable for several years, this classic complete Ring recording now returns triumphantly to the catalog!
Ring groupies and enthusiasts, who are a very active and vocal subset of opera lovers, argue vigorously over which are the best complete recordings of all time. Most will agree that this is one of the finest ever, and many rate it the best of all! Wagner performances recorded in Wagner’s own theater in Bayreuth, Germany always have a special appeal due to the unique acoustics, which Wagner took into account when composing. His music dramas just seem to sound better there than anywhere else.
This recording caused a commotion when it came out in 1953 due to its palpable excitement in comparison to the relative sedateness of previous recorded performances. Clemens Krauss was one of the great Wagner conductors (and a personal friend of Richard Strauss), but what really sets this recording apart is the cast. Overall, it is arguably the greatest cast assembled for The Ring at Bayreuth in the last 60 years. Although the great bass-baritone Hans Hotter sang Wotan in the Solti Ring years later, here his voice is in far better condition. Wolfgang Windgassen as Siegfried is also much more youthful. Astrid Varnay was one of the outstanding Brünnhildes of all time. Even small parts are taken by major singers of the era, such as the famed coloratura Rita Streich as the Forest Bird.
A magnificent set, beautifully packaged, including a 24-page booklet with historic photos, a detailed essay by Bob Levine, plot synopsis, track listings, and enriched throughout by beautiful full color illustrations by acclaimed opera artist John Martinez! Absolutely essential to the serious opera lover, especially the Wagner fan and Ring aficionado! Live performance, Bayreuth Festspielhaus, 1953.
“[A] magnificent live production…on balance, the most impressively cast Ring you can get…the mono sound is excellent…” – Rough Guide to Opera
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