Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

( 4 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Andrew Farach-Colton
Putting Wagner's epic tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, on disc only became possible in the middle of the 20th century, with the advent of the long-playing record. But size was not the only consideration; the awesome orchestral and dramatic effects called for in Wagner's score demanded a producer of enormous skill and creative resourcefulness. Decca had just the man in John Culshaw, who turned the first installment Das Rheingold, released in 1958 into an audio spectacular -- the perfect vehicle for hi-fi enthusiasts to test and show off their new stereophonic systems. The project took seven years to complete and became one of the great monuments in the history...
See more details below
CD (14-Disc Box Set)
$140.90
BN.com price
(Save 22%)$181.99 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (CD)
  • All (2) from $130.15   
  • New (2) from $130.15   

More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Andrew Farach-Colton
Putting Wagner's epic tetralogy, Der Ring des Nibelungen, on disc only became possible in the middle of the 20th century, with the advent of the long-playing record. But size was not the only consideration; the awesome orchestral and dramatic effects called for in Wagner's score demanded a producer of enormous skill and creative resourcefulness. Decca had just the man in John Culshaw, who turned the first installment Das Rheingold, released in 1958 into an audio spectacular -- the perfect vehicle for hi-fi enthusiasts to test and show off their new stereophonic systems. The project took seven years to complete and became one of the great monuments in the history of sound recording. Starting with the venerable Vienna Philharmonic, led by the dynamic Georg Solti, Decca assembled the cast for each opera with enormous care. Kirsten Flagstad, the Brünnhilde of an earlier generation, came out of retirement to sing Fricka in Rheingold; Joan Sutherland made a cameo appearance as the Forest Bird in Siegfried; and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the great lieder singer, took on the role of Gunther in Götterdämmerung. Many critics gave Solti credit for the recording's success, but the real hero of this Ring was Culshaw. From the ear-crushing din of the dwarves' hammers in Rheingold to the awesome collapse of Valhalla at the end of Götterdämmerung, Culshaw found the means for listeners to visualize in their mind's eye the action on stage. There have been some impressive recordings of the Ring in the intervening years -- most notably from Von Karajan DG, Böhm Philips, and Levine DG, the latter two recorded live -- but none matches the sonic vividness and excitement of this classic Decca set. Note: There is a fascinating BBC-made film called The Golden Ring that is about the making of Götterdämmerung, and it deepens one's appreciation for both Culshaw and Solti's achievement. Culshaw also published an absorbing account of the recording sessions titled Ring Resounding now out of print but used copies are available.
New York Times - Anthony Tommasini
If you can have only one "Ring," this is probably the best choice.... The Vienna Philharmonic plays with an uncanny mix of melting lyricism, radiant sound and rhythmic intensity. The cast is superb.
Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
Whether in performance or in vividness of sound, [the Solti Ring] remains the most electrifying account of the tetralogy on disc, sharply focused if not always as warmly expressive as some.... This is a historic set that remains as central today as when it first appeared.

Whether in performance or in vividness of sound, [the Solti Ring] remains the most electrifying account of the tetralogy on disc, sharply focused if not always as warmly expressive as some.... This is a historic set that remains as central today as when it first appeared.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • Release Date: 10/14/1997
  • Label: Decca
  • UPC: 028945555522
  • Catalog Number: 455555
  • Sales rank: 5,661

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold), opera, WWV 86a - Richard Wagner & Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (134:06)
    Composed byRichard Wagner, Richard Wagner
    Conducted byGeorg Solti
    Performed byVienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Böhme, Kirsten Flagstad, Waldemar Kmentt, Paul Kuen, George London, Jean Madeira, Ira Malaniuk, Gustav Neidlinger, Hetty Plumacher, Georg Solti, Set Svanholm, Claire Watson, Eberhard Wächter, Oda Balsborg, Walter Kreppel
  2. 2 Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b - Berit Lindholm & Richard Wagner (193:33)
    Composed byRichard Wagner, Richard Wagner
    Conducted byGeorg Solti
    Performed byBerit Lindholm, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Böhme, Régine Crespin, Helga Dernesch, Kirsten Flagstad, Gottlob Frick, Claudia Hellmann, Hans Hotter, James King, Waldemar Kmentt, Paul Kuen, Vera Little, George London, Christa Ludwig, Jean Madeira, Ira Malaniuk, Gustav Neidlinger, Hetty Plumacher, Georg Solti, Set Svanholm, Claire Watson, Helen Watts, Eberhard Wächter, Oda Balsborg, Christa Fassbaender, Walter Kreppel, Vera Schlosser, Marilyn Tyler
  3. 3 Siegfried, opera, WWV 86c - Berit Lindholm & Richard Wagner (205:17)
    Composed byRichard Wagner, Richard Wagner
    Conducted byGeorg Solti
    Performed byBerit Lindholm, Joan Sutherland, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Böhme, Régine Crespin, Helga Dernesch, Gottlob Frick, Claudia Hellmann, Hans Hotter, Marga Höffgen, James King, Vera Little, Christa Ludwig, Gustav Neidlinger, Birgit Nilsson, Georg Solti, Gerhard Stolze, Helen Watts, Wolfgang Windgassen, Christa Fassbaender, Vera Schlosser, Marilyn Tyler
  4. 4 Die Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods), opera, WWV 86d - Richard Wagner & Joan Sutherland (247:24)
    Composed byRichard Wagner, Richard Wagner
    Conducted byGeorg Solti
    Performed byJoan Sutherland, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Kurt Böhme, Vienna State Opera Chorus, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Maureen Guy, Grace Hoffmann, Hans Hotter, Marga Höffgen, Gwyneth Jones, Christa Ludwig, Gustav Neidlinger, Birgit Nilsson, Lucia Popp, Georg Solti, Gerhard Stolze, Anita Valkki, Claire Watson, Helen Watts, Wolfgang Windgassen
Read More Show Less

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Georg Solti Conductor
Technical Credits
Richard Wagner Composer
John Culshaw Producer
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 4 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(3)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(1)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    The Definitive Ring Cycle

    Quite simply the best.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 13, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 17, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 23, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 4 Customer Reviews