Held [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Taken from the 1999 Sad Pop Full Length 'knock Knock'. Includes 'look Now', 'only Mother' plus an Exclusive Acoustic Version of 'held'.

Tracks:

Conquistador
Whaling Stories
Salty Dog
All This and More
In Held 'Twas in I: Glimpses of Nirvana/'Twas Teatime at the Circus/In
Luskus Delph [Live][*]

Album Description

German digipak reissue of 1972 album includes one bonus track, 'Luskus Delph' (live). Six tracks. Repertoire.

Customer Reviews:

Procol Harum's finest hour perhaps.......2007-07-20

Many of the songs on this live Procol Harum disc maintain their wonderful spiritual atmosphere from the studio versions, but are given a louder, more meaningful performance when delivered in a live setting. If you enjoy what you've heard from Procol Harum in the studio, you will no doubt find a lot to enjoy about this disc. A very melodic and almost hauntingly pleasant live album. I can see myself listening to this band when I'm 80 years old. I bet by that age, I'll still be enjoying these excellent tunes.

The Best Procol Harum Album Ever.......2007-01-26

It took me a long time to find this album on CD, previously only had the vinyl and took it all over the world with me. The CD is engineered very well, a clean recording. The only thing that could have been better is if this album had been released on DVD-Audio or SACD in a true 5.1 mix. This album was originally produced in quad-4 so a remix to 5.1 would be easy and fantastic.

best mix.......2007-01-10

Procul harum live bridges classic rock with classical music. In this album you'll hear a gutiar played as an instrument of the ochestra. Absoulutely a brilliant piece of music.

It's been a long time .......2006-11-28

I haven't heard this album, with the exception of the first track, in about 30 years. My roommate in college owned this album and I was always a PH fan so hearing them with an orchestra was fasinating. I never really saw the CD anywhere until I came across it here and said I must have it. It still sounds great. The songs and arrangements are truly classic in every sense.

Truly A Glimpse Of Nirvana.......2006-10-30

Procol Harum's work throughout the years has been uneven, but this collaboration with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra is one of their shining moments. I have worn out more than one vinyl version of this recording over the years, and I also have the MFSL version of this CD. While it is true that the MFSL disc suffers in comparison to this one, keep in mind the state of technology in 1971. We do owe a debt to Wally Heider's mobile studio for the tapes that allowed Repertoire to do such a splendid job of remastering. This recording belongs in everyone's collection, whether they are a fan of Procol Harum or not. If you are not moved in some manner by the time you hear "Grand Finale", then you had better check your pulse.

Average customer rating:

Finding a gem!
Hauntingly Beautiful
If albums could be held together better....
Amazingly beautiful
Let It Be

If Songs Could Be Held
Rosie Thomas
Manufacturer: Sub Pop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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These Friends of Mine
Say I Am You
We Were Here
Grown
My Better Self

ASIN: B000AMJDCE
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Since You've Been Around
Pretty Dress
Loose Ends
It Don't Matter To The Sun
Guess It May
Let It Be Me
Clear As A Bell
Say What You Want
Time Goes Away
Death Came And Got Me
Tomorrow

Album Description

On her third Sub Pop full-length, this Seattle songwriter/vocalist approaches the sometimes difficult but universal topics of introspection, identity, and love with bravery, honesty, and above all, stunning beauty. "If Songs..." marks the first time she's collaborated with musicians outside her circle of family and friends, this time working with Liz Phair guitarist Dino Meneghin, accomplished film soundtrack string arranger Josh Myers, and a duet with Ed Harcourt on the classic "Let It Be Me".

Customer Reviews:

Finding a gem!.......2007-05-12

This little known talent from Seattle needs to be heard. She has her own unique sound while reminding you at various points of other singers you know and love. There are Joni Mitchell moments, Bonnie Rait moments, and even Tracy Chapman moments. But more importanly, there are tons of Rosie Thomas moments. And if her sound is not enough, check out the fine lyrics she is able to pen. This solid type of song writting has been ingognito for far too long. With just the right production support, the sonics of this project are just spot on. I love music and this album reminds me way. Don't let this one pass you by. With just a few listens, you will become a fan just as I have!

Hauntingly Beautiful.......2006-07-04

I first heard Rosie's music on Grey's Anatomy earlier this year. I was captured by her voice, which was soft and beautiful, but achingly sad. Every time I play the CD I am reminded why I bought it in the first place. The songs speak of relationships and heartache and joy. It's a peaceful album, with lyrics that will make you think. Enjoy it when you have time to reflect and listen to what she has to say. I'd rate it one of my top picks of the year and I look forward to more of her music.

If albums could be held together better...........2006-05-27

On a road trip recently, a friend and I were listening to one of those music magazine compilations covering the best of that months new music. Most of it was pleasant, in a forgettable sort of way, until about track 9 when something altogether different and quite splendid suddenly burst forth from the car stereo speakers. Scrambling for the CD case I soon discovered that the artist was Rosie Thomas and the song 'Pretty Dress'. No sooner had I heard that, then I wanted to hear everything by this enchanting sounding singer-songwriter, and this curiosity led me to track down Rosie Thomas' latest release If Songs Could Be Held.

If you hadn't already guessed from the album title, Rosie Thomas is a sensitive soul, one who crafts literate, introspective songs of delicate beauty. These qualities are exemplified by album opener 'Since You've Been Around', a winsome ballad that captures well the flood of muddled emotions you get from being attracted to someone new on the scene. Next comes the aforementioned 'Pretty Dress' and not only was it immediately arresting 3 months ago, it remains captivating to me now. After the wonderful lead-in of 'Since You've Been Around' and then the melodic jolt of 'Pretty Dress' it's slightly dissappointing to find that nothing on the remainder of the record comes close to being as catchy or upbeat. It all becomes a bit one-paced, with one wistful ballad after another, leaving this particular listener yearning for something a little more rousing or left-field. Taken by themselves, each of these songs are actually quite pretty, but lumped in together they all seem to blend.

Focusing on the positives though, what tracks 1 and 2 clearly illustrate, is that Rosie Thomas has all the capabilities as a songwriter to be more than just a mid-pack player. Definitely an artist to watch.

Like this? Try>
Maria Taylor - 11:11
Garrison Starr - The Sound Of You & Me
Catie Curtis - A Crash Course In Roses

Amazingly beautiful.......2006-02-28

I first came across Rosie Thomas while watching an episode of Alias. I bought one of her CDs and fell completely in love. She captures so much inside song, and doesn't hold back. This new album is worth the buy.

Let It Be.......2006-02-01

Ovo je jedan od onih albuma koji prosto raste u vama. Ne ide ni na prvo ni na drugo slusanje, jednostavno treba malo vremena da bi se sve slozilo.
Glas Rosie Thomas je magican i neodoljiv, jednom reci autentican osim u pesmi Pretty Dress(5/5) u kojoj na momente zvuci kao Kate Bush ili Tori Amos, ali i pored toga pesma ne gubi na kvalitetu, naprotiv.
Da li je moguce izdvojiti neku pesmu? Ne!
Svaka pesma sa ovog albuma je pesma za sebe, zato dozvolite ovom albumu prostor u vasoj kolekciji, If Songs Could Be Held to zasluzuje!

Average customer rating:

Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Passions | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set)
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Schubert: The Masterworks [Box Set]

ASIN: B00062FLI8
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating:

Unique and enjoyable recording
Hey! This has been done before!
Worst live album I've ever heard
I love Rasputina!!!!
An old man who had a cow....

A Radical Recital
Rasputina
Manufacturer: Filthy Bonnet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Frustration Plantation
Cabin Fever
Thanks for the Ether
The Lost & Found
My Fever Broke

ASIN: B000ARG2K0
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Saline The Salt Lake Queen
Rats
Howard Hughes
Signs Of The Zodiac
Secret Message
Watch T.V.
Hunter's Kiss
Things I'm Going To Do
If Your Kisses Can't Hold...
Any Old Actress
Rose K.
The Mayor
Momma Was An Opium-Smoker
Wicked Dickie
When I Was A Young Girl
Barracuda
Rock & Roll
A Quitter
High On Life/Strange & Amazing Comments

Customer Reviews:

Unique and enjoyable recording.......2006-08-16

This is one of my favorite Rasputina albums. The recording quality is top notch and it's not just the band playing the same songs that you hear on the studio albums. They've got some very amusing exchanges with the crowd and intro to most of the songs.

I cannot stress enough that the live editions of these songs are different than the ones on the studio albums. "Hunter's Kiss" and "If Your Kisses Can't Hold", in my opinion, are much better in the live renditions than the studio versions from other albums.

All in all, I am quite pleased with this purchase as it is a very nice complement to the rest of the Rasputina catalog.

Hey! This has been done before!.......2005-12-31

Rasputina is great and unique; being a cellist myself they really mean a lot to me. I am also a music lover and really like 'gothic' stuff(gothic cello music ~perfect~)... but I have been getting into psychedelic/acid folk rock too...Well what does that have to do with anything? I just listened to 'Blind Man' by Curved Air from their album Air Conditioning and I really thought it was Rasputina! The exact same vocal style, strings, and very similar melodies! I can't believe this was done 35 years ago! ... Rasputina kinda had problems in their career trying to find a place to 'fit in' and decided to go with the gothy thing touring with Marilyn Manson. Now their fans are also listening to music like Marilyn Manson, Switchblade Symphony and other Cleopatra Records stuff(based on Amazon.com similar searches)...It just makes me wonder if they toured under a more relevant folk-rock outfit(maybe with Coldplay or Lucinda Williams instead of Manson) would they still have fans that listen to gothic music? Heck No! Would they be more popular? Yes!...So back to what I was gonna say. If you find that Rasputina's music really stands out and you want something more similar in sound do a search for acid/psychedelic folk rock bands of the 60's 70's...stuff like Comus and Curved Air. Similarities will blow you away.

Worst live album I've ever heard.......2005-11-16

Sorry I don't mean to belittle their work but it really is the worst live album by a band I have ever heard.

I love Rasputina!!!!.......2005-10-20

Love the remakes of Barracuda and Been a Long Time. No one believes me when I say that it is a Cello instead of guitars.
Love Wicked Dickie and When I was a Young Girl as well. Buy it. This CD is better, in my opion, than the studio CD's.

An old man who had a cow...........2005-10-18

I love this CD, plain and simple. I had only ever heard a few songs off of 'Thanks for the Ether' and was impressed but not immensely. With this CD, I am impressed...immensely.
First off, it sounds better than any live CD I have ever heard. I usually avoid live recordings like the plague but this one brings me new hope for live stuff.
Second, and most importantly, the music is inspired and practically brilliant (Not Hyperbole). Every song stands on its own and is shockingly eclectic in its own right. From their "Cow Punk" to their "Classical" to songs like "The Mayor" (which is gorgeous, for lack of better word).
If you have heard any of Rasputina's music and even kinda liked it I recommend this CD. If you listen to it and don't find yourself singing "Wicked Dickie" throughout the day, I will give you a nice shiney quarter.

Average customer rating:

Abe Schwartz -- King of Yiddish Music
Old-Time American Roots Klezmer Music
Joy, Joy, Happy, Happy
Close your eyes and you're at a Jewish wedding
Time warp

Klezmer King
Abe Schwartz
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Jewish & Yiddish Music | Folk | Styles | Music

Klezmer | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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Klezmer: Early Yiddish Instrumental Music 1908-1927
From Avenue A to Great White Way 1914-1950

ASIN: B000066401
Release Date: 2002-04-30

Tracks:

Russishe Shehr - Abe Schwart'z Orchestra
Ch'Sidishe Nigunim (Hasidic Melodies) - Boibriker Kapelle
Die Reize Nuch Amerika (The Trip To America) - Abe Schwartz's Orchestra
Die Greene Cousine (The Greenhorn Girl Cousin) - Abraham Moskowitz
Russian Scissors - Oriental Orchestra
Dovid'l Bazetzt Die Kalleh (Little David Seats The Bride) - Dave Tarras
Gelebt Und Gelacht (Live And Laugh) - Phillip Greenberg
T'Kias 'Shofer Blosen' (Blowing The Ram's Horn) - Sam Beckerman
Hurra! Far Unzer Held Levine (Hurray! For Our Hero Levine) - Irving Grossman
Der Shtiller Bulgar (The Quiet Bulgar) - Jewish Orchestra
Roumanian Doina - Abe Schwartz & His Daughter, Miss Schwartz
Zorg Nit Mama (Don't Worry, Mama) - Abe Schwart'z Orchestra
Hora Midor De Romania (Roumanina Hora) - Unknown Orchestra
Nit Die Hagode, Nor Die Kneidlech (Not The Haggadah, But The Matzo Balls) - Abraham Moskowitz
Frauen Liebe (Lady Love) - Abe Schwartz Orchestra
Akdomes Un Af B'ri (At The Beginning And Daybreak) - Boibriker Kapelle
Roumeinishe Doina - Naftule Brandwein
Der Automobile - Morris Goldstein
Yosel - Abe Schewartz's Orchestra
A Galitzianer Tenzil (Galician Dance) - Sam Beckerman
Die Boibriker Chasseneh - Pt. 1 (The Boibrik Wedding) - Boibriker Kapelle
Russian Sher - National Dance - Russkij Orkestr 'Novinka'
Mameniu, Liubeniu (Mama, My Beloved) - Abraham Brandwein
Fihren Di Mechutonim Aheim-Tanz (Escorting The Parents Of The Bride And Groom Home) - Naftule Brandwein
Lebedig Un Frehlach (Lively And Happy) - Abe Schwartz's Orchestra

Amazon.com

It would be impossible to overstate Abe Schwartz's influence on the development of klezmer music in America. He was a fine violinist and pianist, an excellent composer, an arranger who added modern instruments like saxophones and banjos to the Old World sound, and a bandleader with a nose for talent who helped launch the careers of Dave Tarras and Naftule Branwein, among others. The Klezmer King collects 25 tracks from the 75 or so sides that Schwartz recorded for Columbia between 1917 and 1935. Schwartz was remarkably versatile, and the selections include traditional dance tunes like "Roumanian Doina," Yiddish pop tunes such as "Die Greene Cousine," which was later a hit for Benny Goodman as "My Little Cousin," and sly social commentary like "Der Automobile." Also here are three versions of the old melody "Russian Sher," which were recorded in 1917, 1927, and 1935. Listening to them, you can trace Schwartz's style as it evolves from its European roots to a more American version of klezmer. The sound quality of these rare recordings is outstanding; there are almost no clicks, pops, or hiss to mar the music. The Klezmer King is an essential recording from one of the pioneers of New World klezmer. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

Abe Schwartz -- King of Yiddish Music.......2007-02-22

Abe Schwartz was an American klezmer pioneer who discovered such talents as Dave Tarras and Naftule Brandwein as well as inspiring the contemporary klezmer revival bands. Don't miss this collection of his original recordings.

Old-Time American Roots Klezmer Music.......2004-04-15

Abe Schwartz and his orchestra developed and defined klezmer music in America from the mid-1920s up until the 1940s and early '50s. If the beginning sounds of American roots klezmer music is of interest, this is the CD you want. I find that half-way through, my mind wanders. It sounds too schmaltzy for me. I love Central European and Balkan style music ... this CD has diluted versions of this styling. This CD contains Central/East European "cross over" music that is becoming Americanized. In reality it is not quite either, besides the violin, there is the requiste clarinet, other instruments are saxaphone, tuba, piccolo, alto sax, bass sax, drums, and other percussions. The music occasionally sounds like a Balkan Brass band ... fortunately the longing and nostalgia of the klezmer sound, the Jewish roots are evident in all the tracks. The 'sher', 'doina', and 'hora' are types of dance music played by this famous composer, bandleader, and fiddler. My favorite is "Escorting the Parents of the Bride and Groom Home" ("Fihren Di Mechutonim Aheim-Tanz') which features Naftule Brandwein on the clarinet. His improvisations and glissandos are brilliant. The famous klezmer clarinetist, Dave Tarras, is also featured on many of these recordings. "Hasidic Melodies" ("Ch'sidishe Nigunim") is one of my favorite examples of his playing. His command of the clarinet and the creative musical phrasing is phenomenal. "The Greenhorn Girl Cousin" ("Die Green Couisine") is famous for the music, lyrics, and message which brought to the public's attention the bad working conditions in the sweatshops, the first job of immigrants arriving in the USA. It is a catchy tune with Abe Schwartz featured on the violin and Abraham Moskowitz singing the vocals. Spin-offs of this song were written by many including one by Benny Goodman. Overall, if discovering and investigating early klezmer roots music is your goal, this CD will meet your criteria with highest expectations. Otherwise, give me "The Klezmatics", "The Klezmer Conservatory Band" or any modern klezmer group which expresses the music in a more explosive and exciting manner. For me, the modern sound is much more appealing than the early roots which is on this CD. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Joy, Joy, Happy, Happy.......2004-02-05

I came to Klezmer music via Izaak Perlmann's "In the Fiddler's House," which is one of my all time favorite CDs. I'm just learning about the genre, via other Amazon reviewers, so have just recently arrived at this and other "Klezmer roots" CDs (Dave Tarras, as another reviewer mentions, is also excellent). It's just exceedingly harmonious, well orchestrated, tightly knit music, transported from the old world to the new. The tradition lives on, and an increasing number of us goyim are coming to appreciate it. Sound quality, these can't compete with modern recordings like those of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, or the Klezmatics, but it will definitely give you an idea of where they learned from. Mazaltov!!

Close your eyes and you're at a Jewish wedding.......2003-03-31

If you've ever heard new groups like the Yiddish Cup Klezmer Band and The Klezmatics and marveled at how they got all those great old tunes, look no further. Abe Schwartz, the Klezmer King is now available on CD. Before this, 78 RPM records these were remastered from was the only place you could hear him.

The Klezmer King album is old, both in sound and style. But keep in mind that clarinet klezmer is more of an American thing. This music is a generation or two removed from the original originals. Songs called Russian Sher and Roumanian Doina indicate that, just like today, wedding musicians from the old country were jamming the hits of the day as well as the "Jewish" stuff.

But it was guys like Schwartz, Dave Tarras and the Musiker Brothers, whom the new wave learned from. But unlike the younger versions, these melodies don't seem to have jazz-like improvisation. They are straight ahead rollickers, heavy on catchy rhythm and melody. There are a total of twenty-five tracks on the album and most are short and fast.

The instruments employed are the violin, played by Schwartz, the clarinet and horns. The beat is so danceable that you forget there's no percussion. That's traditional, because back in the old country, if the klezmorim had any percussion at all it was just a bass drum.

For you Yiddish speakers, The Klezmer King is not all instrumental. There are tracks that start with lively shouts as well as straight singing pieces like Mameniu Liubeniu or the satirical Hurra Far Unzerheld Levine.

Then there's Die Bolbriker Chasseneh, which has Schwartz introducing a bride and groom in between slow music. He raises his voice, half speaking and half singing in rapid-fire Yiddish. Then he gasps out that the couple is now officially married and the band breaks into fast, bouncy jamming. Close your eyes and you can imagine you're one of the guests. That goes for most of the tunes here.

If you didn't know the difference between a bulgar and freilach and nigun before, you better start learning. Abe Schwartz taught long of young folks about what it takes to be a king of klezmer. Companion CDs of Dave Tarras and the Musiker Brothers are available from Legacy Recordings.

Time warp.......2002-08-11

Listening to the 25 old but timeless cuts on this set of remastered Yiddish greats provides many layers of enjoyment. In hearing these long-forgotten tunes, one enjoys clarinet and violin strains influenced by ancient melodies and traditions. And some will recognize varied renditions of old favorites. The 6th cut, for example, Dovid'l Bazetzt die Kalleh, is engrained into my memory from Jewish Music, a Benedict Silberman recording, circa 1955, of Yiddish orchestrations.

The music is all decidedly Eastern European. The Roumanian Doina, for example, played by Abe Schwartz (violin) and his daughter, strongly resembles the brilliant Rom music generated by the same region.

No wonder. Born in Bucharest, Romania, Abe Schwartz (1881-1963) emigrated to the U.S. with his parents in 1899 and became the most influential composer, fiddler and bandleader to shape and define modern U.S. klezmer groups. He arrived in the musical establishment via an acquaintance from small jobs with David Nodiff, a part-time composer and so-called A&R (for artist and repertoire) man for Columbia Records, who helped bring klezmer and other ethnic musicians to record companies. Nodiff hired Schwartz in 1917 to find new Jewish talent and head up instrumental recording sessions.

This recording provides some of the time and style progression of Yiddish American music from 1917, when Schwartz recorded Russian Scissors for Columbia with the Oriental Orchestra. In 1927, he recorded the same tune again as Russishe Shehr, in a brassier rendition played by his own orchestra. Still a later 1935 version can be heard in Russian Sher National Dance, the 22nd cut, recorded with the Orkestr Novinka. (And that is the most recent recording here.) The musical and stylistic progressions from 1917 and 1918 through 1935 are admirably explained in an accompanying 8-page pamphlet.

This is not the jazzy stuff many will remember from the 1940s and 1950s. It came before the Barry Sisters, before Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras. Abe Schwartz was their mentor.

Tracks:

The Rhinegold: Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin Lacht in Den Grund - Helen Donath/Edda Moser/Anna Reynolds/Zoltan Kelemen
The Rhinegold: Nur Wer Der Minne Macht Ensagt - Helen Donath/Edda Moser/Anna Reynolds
The Rhinegold: Der Welt Erbe Gewann Ich Zu Eigen Durch Dich - Zoltan Kelemen/Helen Donath/Edda Moser/Anna Reynolds
The Rhinegold: Haltet Den Rauber! - Helen Donath/Edda Moser/Anna Reynolds
The Rhinegold: Hor, Wotan, Der Harrenden Wort! - Karl Ridderbusch/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Martti Talvela/Simone Mangelsdorff
The Rhinegold: Schwester! Bruder! Rettet! Helft! - Simone Mangelsdorff/Donald Grobe/Robert Kerns/Gerhard Stolze/Josephine Veasey
The Rhinegold: Wotan, Gemahl, Unselger Mann! - Josephine Veasey/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Gerhard Stolze/Robert Kerns/Donald Grobe
The Rhinegold: (Transformation Music) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
The Rhinegold: Zur Burg Fuhrt Die Brucke - Donald Grobe
The Rhinegold: Abendlich Strahlt Der Sonne Auge - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
The Rhinegold: So Gruss Ich Die Burg - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Josephine Veasey/Gerhard Stolze
The Rhinegold: Rheingold! Rheingold! - Helen Donath/Edda Moser/Anna Reynolds/Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Gerhard Stolze
The Valkyrie: Der Manner Sippe Sass Hier Im Saal - Gundula Janowitz/Jon Vickers
The Valkyrie: Wintersturme Wichen Dem Wonnemond - Jon Vickers
The Valkyrie: Du Bist Der Lenz - Gundula Janowitz
The Valkyrie: O Susseste Wonne! Seligstes Weib! - Jon Vickers/Gundula Janowitz
The Valkyrie: War Walse Dein Vater, Und Bist Du Ein Walsung - Gundula Janowitz/Jon Vickers
The Valkyrie: Siegmund, Den Walsung, Siehst Du, Weib! - Jon Vickers/Gundula Janowitz
The Valkyrie: (The Ride Of The Valkyries) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
The Valkyrie: Leb Wohl, Du Kuhnes, Herrliches Kind! - Thomas Stewart
The Valkyrie: Der Augen Leuchtendes Paar - Thomas Stewart
The Valkyrie: Loge, Hor! Lausche Hieher! - Thomas Stewart
The Valkyrie: (Magic Fire Music) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan

Tracks:

Siegfried: Dass Der Mein Vater Nicht Ist - Forest Murmurs - Jess Thomas
Siegfried: Nun Sing! Ich Lausche Dem Gesang! - Jess Thomas/Catherine Gayer
Siegfried: Prld To Act III. - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
Siegfried: Wache, Wala! Wala! Erwach! - Thomas Stewart
Siegfried: (Brunnhilde's Awakening: Intro) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
Siegfried: Heil Dir, Sonne! Heil Dir, Licht! - Helga Dernesch/Jess Thomas
Siegfried: Siegfried! Siegfried Seliger Held! - Helga Dernesch/Jess Thomas
Twilight Of The Gods: (Orchestral Interlude) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
Twilight Of The Gods: Zu Neuen Taten, Teurer Helde - Helga Dernesch
Twilight Of The Gods: Mehr Gabst Du, Wunderfrau, Als Ich Zu Wahren Weiss - Helge Brilioth/Helga Dernesch
Twilight Of The Gods: (Siegfried's Rhine Journey) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
Twilight Of The Gods: (Funeral Music) - BPO/Herbert Von Karajan
Twilight Of The Gods: Starke Scheite Schichtet Mir Dort - Helga Dernesch
Twilight Of The Gods: Mein Erbe Nun Nehm Ich Zu Eigen - Helga Dernesch
Twilight Of The Gods: Fliegt Heim, Ihr Raben! - Helga Dernesch
Twilight Of The Gods: Conclusion 'Zuruck Vom Ring!' - Karl Ridderbusch

Customer Reviews:

A substantial overview of Karajan's Ring.......2007-07-11

One could debate for a brief eternity which conductor should be labeled "the best." Numerous magnanimous interpreters come to mind: Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini, Otto Klemperer, Carlos Kleiber, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, Sir Georg Solti, Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim, Giuseppe Sinopoli, and James Levine are just a potpourri of renowned orchestral masters. Toscanini and Karajan were probably the most influential in redefining the nature in which one should approach a piece of music; both insisted that traditional conducting, in which a piece was essentially performed in the same manner continuously, was neither healthy nor appropriate for the music in question and, they laid the foundation for conductors to develop their own characteristic conducting and interpretative styles.

One now comes to Richard Wagner, often considered the master of Romantic music and one of the definitive composers to ever set foot on the soil of this planet. If one were to painstakingly evaluate the two conductors' collective Wagnerian works, one would most likely come to the conclusion that Hungarian-born Sir Georg Solti was a "more perfect" Wagnerian conductor than the Austrian musical megalomaniac Herbert von Karajan. Solti's style of conducting, which lent itself to the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, Mahler, and Richard Strauss, was obviously within the atmosphere of Wagner, and his John Culshaw-produced rendering of Der Ring des Nibelungen can easily be considered one of the greatest achievements in modern recorded sound. Nonetheless, Karajan's brilliance came not from his ability to conduct Wagner perfectly, as one might arguably suggest for Solti, but rather from his ability to approach every composer with a certain level of comfort and singularity while simultaneously retaining his format of interpretation. Karajan was just as comfortable with the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as he was with Jean Sibelius and Arnold Schoenberg, and his expertise transcended every medium, from choral works and masses to symphonies to operas to concerti. It was also his singular smoothness, his uncanny ability to gloss and refine the roughest and most vulgar of music (which, occasionally, in a work such as Carmen, had a derogatory effect) which made his Wagnerian music so spectacular a beacon and link within the chain mail of the musical world.

This is the reason why this recording of Der Ring des Nibelungen features what critics have called a "chamber music approach" to the Wagner score; Karajan dissected the music (as he did with everything he conducted) and took every measure to present, at all times, the beauty inherent in the music, even at the most violent and explosive instances. No fault is obvious in this, and with the operas of Rossini or Donizetti, no problem would have occurred; however, with Wagner, placing too burdensome an emphasis on beauty could, possibly, have an acidic effect on the overall drama of the work. This became an almost debilitating fault near the end of his illustrious career, but here the results are stunning. Karajan's interpretation is not sluggish (by the standards set by Solti, it is actually fairly brisk) and the orchestral performance from the imperial Berliner Philharmoniker is beyond betterment.

Thus, one must wonder why this recording of the Ring Cycle, with arguably the best conductor in the world leading one of the finest groups of musicians ever assembled, is frequently dogged by critics as weak and woefully idealistic. The answer lies in Karajan's casting which is, overall, inferior to Solti's. However, jewel-bedecked performances can be found in Karajan's cast with which Solti's cannot compete. Jon Vickers and Gundula Janowitz bring new definition to the twins Siegmund and Sieglinde. Operatic roles may have existed which Vickers did not perfect, but those which he performed (Peter Grimes, Samson, Tristan, Aeneas, Otello, Don José) were forever standardized by his interpretation. Siegmund is no exception, and though James King was a golden-toned, amorous youth on the Solti Die Walküre, Vickers is mightily Zarathustran and gloriously introspective during "Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond." Janowitz, who could make the harshest, most brutal German phrases drip with the smoothness and creamy elegance of French, brings radiance and gleaming simplicity to her Sieglinde which no other soprano could dare attempt. Their ecstatic, and eventually orgasmic, love duet ("Du bist der Lenz" ... "O süsseste Wonne! Seligstes Weib!" ... "Siegmund, den Wälsung, siehst du, Weib!") may be the greatest moment of Karajan's entire Ring Cycle.

The character of Wotan, the ruler of the gods, should, theoretically, be performed by a commanding, sonorous bass-baritone such as George London, Hans Hotter, Theo Adam, or James Morris, the most superb modern Wagnerian baritone. However, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, who was so praised for his vocal delicacy and aristocratic gentility, is surprisingly successful as the ambitious god whose ageless wisdom was blinded by his opulent rapaciousness in Das Rheingold. Fischer-Dieskau was often fussy and blusterous on the operatic stage, but brief instances of vocal waywardness are often excusable through Wagner, and he will have no difficulty pleasing the most caustic critic during his wondrous musing as the gods enter the celestial fortress of Valhalla ("Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge...So grüss ich die Burg"). Thomas Stewart, a severely under-recorded American baritone, excels as Wotan in Die Walküre and Siegfried. Wotan's eminent farewell to Brünnhilde in Die Walküre ("Leb wohl, du kühnes, herrliches Kind!...Der Augen leuchtendes Paar") could easily buckle many baritones; Stewart, however, sings with unfettered passion and mournful abandonment as the pained father. He is less thrilling (due to the context of the music, not his voice) in his conjuring of Erda in Siegfried ("Wache, Wala! Wala! Erwach!").

Gerhard Stolze, the consummate character singer, is not featured on this set of highlights as Mime, Alberich's toiling, gnomish brother, in Siegfried; his unique caricature of Loge in Das Rheingold is inserted instead. Loge, the mischievous demigod of fire, is a part usually performed by a heldentenor, such as Wolfgang Windgassen, Set Svanholm, or Siegfried Jerusalem, and for those strictly concerned with vocal beauty, these singers would be highly appropriate. However, for those seeking a more burlesque, stupendously acted performance (merely listen as he warns the gods not to enter Valhalla ["Ihrem Ende eilen sie zu"]), Stolze is perfectly idiomatic and certainly does not "bark" his lines, though he is occasionally criticized for doing so. Hungarian bass-baritone Zoltan Kélémén's career began, for the most part, with Karajan casting him as Alberich. The most inimitable interpreter of the dwarf fiend was Gustav Neidlinger; his Alberich was explosively, thunderously vindictive, a Caligulan nemesis. Kélémén's Alberich was a twisted, grisly deuce, and though he may have lacked the vocal robustness of Neidlinger (and the malignant guffaw), his retort against the mocking of the Rheintöchter ("Der Welt Erbe gewänn ich zu eigen duch dich") is a petrifying outburst. Helen Donath, Edda Moser, and Anna Reynolds are the most perfectly tuned Rheintöchter available on disc. No other trio can compare with their beguiling chatter in the first scene ("Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin lacht in den Grund") nor with their wrathful longing in the finale ("Rheingold! Rheingold! Reines Gold!"). Liselotte Rebmann, Daniza Mastilovic, Ingrid Steger, Lilo Brockhaus, Carlotta Ordassy, Barbro Ericson, Cvetka Ahlin, and Helja Jenckel are similarly victorious during the Walkürnritt ("Hojotoho!"), which is sure to conjure an image of helicopters napalming seaside Vietnamese villages vis-à-vis Francis Ford Coppola or hellish, armed and armor-bedecked maidens soaring about on flying horses.

Josephine Veasey possessed an elegant, matronly tone which was perfectly suited for Fricka, Wotan's bickering wife, the goddess of marriage. Donald Grobe, a Karajan regular, is insipid but secure as Froh in his brief monologue ("Zur Burg führt die Brücke"). Martti Talvela and Karl Ridderbusch (another Karajan regular) shared the four main bass roles in the saga: Fasolt, Fafner, Hunding, and Hagen. Talvela is noted as one of the most sympathetic Fasolts on record; one must wonder how Talvela, the gargantuan Finnish bass, could not be suitable as a giant in any opera. His performance is woefully truncated here, alas. His Hunding, which was surely brutish and bovine, is not heard at all. The iniquitous villain Fafner's greatest moment comes not in Das Rheingold as the bellowing lummox but in Siegfried as the leering, yawning dragon; this is also left out of the collection. Ridderbusch's performance as Hagen, often heralded as one of his finest, is represented here by little more than his final outburst of "Zurück vom Ring!" After Dame Joan Sutherland's "cameo" appearance as the Waldwogel in Sir Georg Solti's Siegfried, all other performances are bound to fall short. Nonetheless, Catherine Gayer is notably lovely and chirpy.

Most criticism concerning the soloists is invested in insulting Jess Thomas, Helga Dernesch, and Helge Brilioth. Thomas, a regal Lohengrin and Tannhäuser in his youth, has forever been the recipient of spiteful banter reviling his performance as Siegfried in the third opera of the cycle. It is true that Windgassen owned the role in much the same way that Birgit Nilsson was the executor of Brünnhilde (after Flagstad and Varnay); however, their performances were sublime in the locality of their vocal precision and dramatic prowess, which were sublime. In the sector of vocal attractiveness (which is, one must concede, Karajan's principal area of focus), Windgassen fell short of the golden-throated Thomas, and Nilsson's steely voice, though it possessed its own rampageous eroticism, was also inferior to Helga Dernesch's richer and milder tone. As examples, Thomas is marvelous during the darkly impressionistic, meandering Waldweben ("Dass der mein Vater nicht ist"); Dernesch is ravishing in the Awakening Scene ("Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht! ... Siegfried! Siegfried! Seliger Held!") and in the apocalyptic finale of Götterdämmerung ("Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort...Fliegt heim, ihr Raben!"). Poor Brilioth is often criticized for simply sounding dull and inadequate as Siegfried in Götterdämmerung, and one must concede that it would have been more prudent for Karajan to cast Windgassen. [Régine Crespin, who is not featured on this collection, performed Brünnhilde in Die Walkure. This had mixed results, for most held her performance as the Valkyrie in juxtaposition to her gorgeous interpretation of Sieglinde on the Solti recording. I, personally, found her Brunnhilde delightfully witty and humane.]

Perhaps the greatest fault of this collection of highlights is that it is what it is: a collection of excerpts. Der Ring des Nibelungen is an expansive masterpiece which is not suitable for a two-disc collection of noteworthy tracks. This compilation, nevertheless, is indeed superb (as are most Deutsche Grammophon/Panorama releases), as is the set of highpoints from Karl Böhm's Ring Cycle, released through Philips. One should, by all means, disregard the hateful criticism placed upon Karajan's work here. It is not his finest, but it is Karajan, and his worst level is a pinnacle of excellence which most conductors can only hope to achieve, particularly in a Wagnerian sphere.

Where is Karajan's Ring on amazon?.......2005-09-05

I can't find any of the four Ring operas here at amazon.com. This is very peculiar, but in case you, too, are looking for them, I can say that the Rheingold and Die Walkure are superb, but the Siegfried is vocally a catastrophe, beginning with the woeful Jess Thomas in the title role, and the Gotterdammerung is hampered by an inedequate Siegfried and a not veyr inspired dernesch as Brunnhilde. DG has remastered them all at mid-price, and the mid-Sixties analog sound was good to begin with.

not an introduction to The Ring.......2005-04-18

This is absolutely the best "highlight" collection out there -- no others come close to the range and depth of material provided. But beware, this is not an "introduction to The Ring", as some claim -- the notes are skimpy, the titles of the excerpts are untranslated, there is no libretto, no description of the excerpts -- their context or meaning -- so what you have is a great summary of the works -- one that is most useful if you already know them -- something to take along with you in the car or while jogging or walking the dog to remind you of the real thing. Bear in mind that whatever the deficiencies of this collection, the others have the same faults also.

A wonderful introduction, or a new experience.......2004-02-14

Admittedly, it is a daunting task to try to "get into" opera, and even more so with Wagner's Ring. This CD is perfect for the beginner and the more experienced listener for various reasons. First of all, it spoils you somewhat in presenting you with the best pieces of the various operas. These "bleeding chunks" certainly give you a wonderful introduction to the various motifs, and most importantly, are very long pieces. The CD manages to capture several of the different flavors present in Wagner's opera.

Secondly, the CD is worth its price mainly due to Karajan's conducting. After listening to Solti's version of the Ring (also wonderful), I was suprised by the subtle hints he seems to charge through. You can literally hear the galloping of the horse, or subtle musical hints which add a great appreciation and character to the opera. Thus, if you have experienced several other conductors, but have not had the pleasure of Karajan, it would be worth the price.

Unfortunatly, some of the singing is kinda weak. Again, after Solti's Valkyries, you will have a hard time getting into the singing. And again, Karajan's Brunhilde isn't as strong as Solti's, but she still holds her own. Loge, here, sounds like a trickster (though he does sing/speak his words), and the Wotan's are alright.

In conclusion, this is perfect if you want to add flavor to your Wagner listening experience, or just want to know what the big deal is. I, of course, suggest getting one of the DVD's to get the big picture of what is going on (Levine's MET is a good start). So buy and enjoy.

good introduction.......2002-06-11

this is a good way to see why it is worth getting the full Der Ring opera--all 15 CDs! having just the highlights shows you the power and majesty of Wagner's music, but skips the depth and true emotion you get out of listening to the whole opera.

Average customer rating:

LUMINOSO

Manufacturer: INNOVA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000HEWG2Y
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Tracks:

Luminoso - Enrique Malo Lop
Tourmaline - Xelo Giner
Ayehli - Robert Armengol
Onice - Harry Sparnaay
Snapdragon - Carlos Gil Ferrer
New Skin - Barbara Held

Average customer rating:

Erfreuliche Lautenlust

Manufacturer: Hanssler Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Piccinini: Intavolature di Liuto e Chitarrone
Lute Book of Perrine

ASIN: B000E6V0IQ
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Tracks:

Passacaglia Di Mons. Mouffat
Ouverture
Allemande
Paysanne
Courante
Sarabande
Bourree
Menuet
Adagio
Menuet
Phantasie
Allemande
Courrente
Sarabande
Menuette
Guige
Praeludium
Paduana
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Gigue
Ouverture
Allemande
Courrente
Sarabande
Gavotte
Menuette
Bourree
Guige
Passagaglia In C Minor

Album Description

This disc documents the development of the "new" generation of German lute virtuosos who emerged following the devastating Thirty Years' War, and how they began to build a new tradition of their own, adding new elements derived from Italian opera and local popular traditions which produced a new hybrid style of lute music with its own definite character. Joachim Held, currently one of Europe's great lute scholars, has selected a program of works from a manuscript compiled by the priest and lute virtuoso, Ferdinand Fischer, housed in the famed archives of the Benedictine monastery of Kremsmünster, near Salzburg.

Average customer rating:

A beautiful tribute to the masterwork of Sacred Music
Out of the ashes

J.S. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 13

Manufacturer: Challenge Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Bach: Complete Cantatas, Vol. 14
J.S. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 17
J.S. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 16
J.S. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 15
J.S. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 6

ASIN: B00008X595
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Tracks:

Chorus: Wie Schon Leuchtet Der Morgenstern
Recitative: Du Wahrer Gottes Und Marien Sohn
Aria: Erfullet, Ihr Himmlischen Gottlichen Flammen
Recitative: Ein Irdscher Glanz, Ein Leiblich Licht
Aria: Unser Mund Und Ton Der Saiten
Chorale: Wie Bin Ich Doch So Herzlich Froh
Chorus: Nun Komm, Der Heiden Heiland
Aria: Bewundert, O Menschen, Dies Grosse Geheimnis
Recitative: So Geht Aus Gottes Herrlichkeit Und Thron
Aria: Streite, Siege, Starker Held!
Recitative: Wir Ehren Diese Herrlichkeit
Chorale: Lob Sei Gott, Sem Vater, Ton
Chorus: Herr Christ, Der Einge Gottessohn
Recitative: O Wunderkraft Der Liebe
Aria: Ach, Ziehe Die Seele Mit Seilen Der Liebe
Recitative: Ach, Fuhre Mich, O Gott, Zum Rechten Wege
Aria: Bald Zur Rechten, Bald Zur Linken
Chorale: Ertot Uns Durch Dein Gute
Aria: Streite, Siege, Starker Held!

Tracks:

Chorus: Aus Tiefer Not Schrei Ich Zu Dir
Recitative: In Jesu Gnade Wird Allein
Aria: Ich Hore Mitten In Den Leiden
Recitative: Ach! Dass Mein Glaube Noch So Schwach
Aria: Wenn Meine Trubsal Als Mit Ketten
Chorale: Ob Bei Uns Ist Der Sunden Viel
Chorus: Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott Lasst Walten
Recitative: Was Helfen Uns Die Schweren Sorgen?
Aria+Chorale: Man Halte Nur Ein Wenig Stille
Aria+Chorale: Er Kennt Die Rechten Freudenstunden
Recitative+Chorale: Denk Nicht In Deiner Drangsalshitze
Aria: Ich Will Auf Den Herren Schaun
Chorale: Sing, Bet Und Geh Auf Gottes Wegen
Chorus: Allein Zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Recitative: Mein Gott Und Richter
Aria: Wie Furchtsam Wankten Meine Schritte
Recitative: Mein Gott, Verwirf Mich Nicht
Aria: Gott, Der Du Die Liebe Heisst
Chorale: Ehr Sei Gott In Dem Hochsten Thron

Tracks:

Chorus: Iche Freue Mich In Dir
Aria: Getrost! Es Fasst Ein Heilger Leib
Recitative: Ein Adam Mag Sich Voller Schrecken
Aria: Wie Lieblich Klingt Es In Den Ohren
Recitative: Wohlan! Des Todes Furcht And Schmerz
Chorale: Wohlan, So Will Ich Mich
Chorale: Das Neugeborne Kindelein
Aria: O Menschen, Die Ihr Taglich Sundigt
Recitative: Die Engel, Welche Sich Zuvor
Aria: Ist Gott Versohnt Und Unser Freund
Recitative: Dies Ist Ein Tag
Chorale: Es Bringt Das Rechte Jubeljahr
Chorus: Ich Hab In Gottes Herz Und Sinn
Recitative: Es Kann Mir Fehlen Nimmermehr!
Aria: Seht, Seht! Wie Reisst, Wie Bricht, Wie Fallt
Choral: Zudem Ist Weisheit Und Verstand
Recitative: Wir Wollen Nun Nicht Langer Zagen
Aria: Das Sturmen Von Den Rauhen Winden
Choral: Ei Nun, Mein Gott, So Fall Ich Dir
Aria: Meinen Hirten Bleib Ich Treu
Chorale: Soll Ich Den Auch Des Todes Weg

Customer Reviews:

A beautiful tribute to the masterwork of Sacred Music.......2004-11-29

It goes without saying that Bach's Cantatas are among the classics of western music. No one with the possible exception of Palestrina, captured the power of faith in his music better. That said, these performances of several of Bachs' cantatas are very well done, profoundly emotional and deeply stirring. director Koopman captures bach's intentions well in this volume, which serves to show his proficiency as a conductor and his empathy as a musician.
Although these collected cantatas are by no means my favorite ( i personally prefer Gott ist mein Konig and Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme) these are a valuable addition to any fan of baroque or sacred music.

Out of the ashes.......2003-07-19

One can only hope that even those who fault Koopman for what they tend to call his "studied" interpretations cannot fault him for his commitment! When Warner/Erato pulled the plug on this series, with this recording (vol. 13) already in the can, Koopman started his own label (well, sub-label, actually) to continue it. Better, he declares that he will now release three volumes a year rather than two, as Warner did.

At any rate, the present volume continues the recording of the choral cantatas from the years 1724-5, and in very good style. Klaus Mertens is stellar as always, Paul Agnew makes up in expressiveness what he misses in intonation, and the same is true for the soprano and alto--both new (I think) to the series. As I have written in another review of a volume of this series, these are severely under-served works, especially on original instruments and with original forces. If you love the cantatas, or even sacred choral music in general, you need this set. If enough of us support the series, we may get the added benefit of making Amazon order in bulk from the label!

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen
Average customer rating:

Coates, Austral, Widdop, Melchior, Schorr, Easton

The greatest Wagner singing - bar none

An abolute must

The Best Second "Ring"

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Wagner: Das Rheingold

Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Wagner: The Ring

Wagner: Die Walküre

Joseph Marx: Nature Trilogy

ASIN: B000000WP5
Release Date: 1994-11-29

Tracks:

90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood L
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood L
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
90 Motives From The Ring - LSO/Lawrance Collingwood
Siegfried: Act I: Nothung! Nothung! - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Siegfried: Act II: Dass Der Mein Vater Nicht Ist - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Siegfried: Act II: Forest Murmurs - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Siegfried: Act II: Heiss Ward Mir - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Siegfried: Act III: Heil Dir, Sonne! - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Siegfried: Act III: Ewig War Ich - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Siegfried: Act III: O Siegfried! Dein War Ich Von Je - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Gotterdammerung: Prologue: Siegfried's Rhine Journey - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Siegfried's Funeral Music - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck

Tracks:

Das Rheingold: Prld - Berlin State Op Orch/Karl Muck
Das Rheingold: Spottet Nur Zu! - Louise Trenton/Elsie Suddaby/Nellie Walker/Aruthur Fear
Das Rheingold: Wotan, Gemahl - Nellie Walker/Walter Widdop/Kennedy MacKenna/Howard Fry/Arthur Fear
Das Rheingold: Zur Burg Fuhrt Die Brucke...Abendlich Strahlt - Friedrich Schorr/Waldemar Henke/Genia Guszalewicz
Die Walkure: Act I: Prld...Wes Herd Dies Auch Sei - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Ein Schwert Verhiess Mir Der Vater - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Schlafst Du, Gast? - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Der Manner Sippe - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Dich, Selige Frau - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Wintersturme Wichen Dem Wonnemond - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Du Bist Der Lenz - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act I: Siegmund Heiss Ich - Walter Widdop/Gota Ljungberg
Die Walkure: Act II: Nun Zaume Dein Ross...Hojotoho! - Frida Leider/Emmi Leisner/Friedrich Schorr
Die Walkure: Act II: Der Alte Sturm, Die Alte Muh! - Frida Leider/Emmi Leisner/Friedrich Schorr
Die Walkure: Act II: So Ist Denn Aus Mit Den Ewigen - Frida Leider/Emmi Leisner/Friedrich Schorr
Die Walkure: Act II: Was Verlangst Du? - Frida Leider/Emmi Leisner/Friedrich Schorr
Die Walkure: Act II: O Heilige Schmach! - Frida Leider/Emmi Leisner/Friedrich Schorr

Tracks:

Die Walkure: Act II: So Nimm Meinen Segen - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr
Die Walkure: Act II: Raste Nur Hier - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: Hinweg! Hinweg! - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: Siegmund, SIch Auf Mich! - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: Fand'ich In Walhall - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: So Jung Und Schon - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: Zauberfest Bezahmt Ein Schlaf - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: Wehwalt! Wehwalt! - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act II: Geh Hin, Knecht! - LSO/Albert Coates
Die Walkure: Act III: Ride Of The Valkyries - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: Rette Mich, Kuhne! - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: Wo Ist Brunnhild - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: War Es So Schmahlich - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: Du Zeugtest Ein Edies Geschlecht - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: Leb Wohl, Du Kuhnes, herrliches Kind! - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: Der Augen Leuchtendes Paar - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann
Die Walkure: Act III: Loge, Hor! - Frida Leider/Friedrich Schorr/Gota Ljungberg/Elfriede Marherr/Genia Guszalewicz/Lydia Kindermann

Tracks:

Siegfried: Act I: Prld - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Zwangvolle Plage! - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Hoiho! Hoiho! Hau Ein! Hau Ein! - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Als Zullendes Kind Zog Ich Dich Auf - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Soll Ich Der Kunde Glauben - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Aus Dem Wald Fort - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Heil Dir, Weiser Schmied - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Dein Haupt Pfand Ich - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Friedrich Schorr
Siegfried: Act I: Fuhltest Du Nie Im Finstren Wald - Lauritz Melchior/Albert Reiss
Siegfried: Act I: Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert! - Lauritz Melchior/Albert Reiss
Siegfried: Act I: Hoho! Hoho! Hahei!... - Lauritz Melchior/Albert Reiss
Siegfried: Act II: In Wald Und Nacht - Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act II: Zur Neidhohle Fuhr Bei Nacht - Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act II: Deine Hand Hieltest Du Vom Hort? - Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act II: Dass Der Mein Vater Nicht Ist - Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act II: Du Holdes Voglein - Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act II: Haha! Da Hatte Mein Lied - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Eduard Habich
Siegfried: Act II: Wohin Schleichst Du Eilig Und Schlau - Lauritz Melchior/Heinrich Tessmer/Eduard Habich

Tracks:

Siegfried: Act II: Da Lieg Auch Du, Dunkler Wurm! - Lauritz Melchior/Nora Gruhn
Siegfried: Act II: Gonntest Du Mir Wohl Ein Gut Gesell? - Lauritz Melchior/Nora Gruhn
Siegfried: Act II: Hei! Siegfried Erschlung Nun Den Schlimmen Zwerg! - Lauritz Melchior/Nora Gruhn
Siegfried: Act III: Prld - Emil Schipper/Maria Olszewska
Siegfried: Act III: Wache, Wala - Emil Schipper/Maria Olszewska
Siegfried: Act III: Stark Ruft Das Lied - Emil Schipper/Maria Olszewska
Siegfried: Act III: Dir Unweisen Ruf Ich Ins Ohr - Emil Schipper/Maria Olszewska
Siegfried: Act III: Kenntest Du Mich, Kuhner Spross - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Zich Hin! - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Siegfried Mounts The Rocky Height - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Selige Ode Auf Sonniger Hoh'! - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Das Ist Kein Mann! - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Heil Dir, Sonne! - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: O Siegfried! Siegfried! - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Ewig War Ich - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Dich Lieb Ich - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior
Siegfried: Act III: Ob Jetzt Ich Dein? - Florence Easton/Lauritz Melchior

Tracks:

Gotterdammerung: Prologue: Welch Licht Leuchtet Dort? - Arthur Fear/Walter Widdop/Frederic Collier/Gota Ljungberg
Gotterdammerung: Prologue: Dawn - Arthur Fear/Walter Widdop/Frederic Collier/Gota Ljungberg
Gotterdammerung: Prologue: Zu Neuen Taten - Arthur Fear/Walter Widdop/Frederic Collier/Gota Ljungberg
Gotterdammerung: Prologue: Sigfried's Rhine Journey - Arthur Fear/Walter Widdop/Frederic Collier/Gota Ljungberg
Gotterdammerung: Act I: Begrusse Froh, O Held - Arthur Fear/Walter Widdop/Frederic Collier/Gota Ljungberg
Gotterdammerung: Act I: Hier Sitz Ich Zur Wacht - Maartie Offers/Florence Austral
Gotterdammerung: Act I: Seit Er Von Geschieden - Maartie Offers/Florence Austral
Gotterdammerung: Act II (Beginning): Hoiho! Hoihohoho! - Ivar Andresen/Berlin State Chor:/Leo Blech

Tracks:

Gotterdammerung: Act II (Conclusion): Helle Wehr! - Florence Austral/Frederic Collier/Arthur Fear
Gotterdammerung: Act II (Conclusion): Welches Unholds List - Florence Austral/Frederic Collier/Arthur Fear
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Frau Sonne Sendet Lichte Strahlen - Rudolf Laubenthal/Tilly De Garmo/Lydia Kindermann/Elfriede Marherr
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Mime Hiess Ein Murrischer Zwerg - Rudolf Laubenthal/Desider Zador/Emmanuel List/Berlin State Chor/Leo Blech
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Brunnhilde, Heilige Braut! - Rudolf Laubenthal/Desider Zador/Emmanuel List/Berlin State Chor/Leo Blech
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Siegfried's Funeral Music - Florence Austral
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Schweigt Eures Jammers - Florence Austral
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Starke Scheit Schichtet Mir Dort - Florence Austral
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Sein Ross Fuhret Daher - Florence Austral
Gotterdammerung: Act III: Finale - Florence Austral

Customer Reviews:

Coates, Austral, Widdop, Melchior, Schorr, Easton.......2007-06-15

These "bleeding chunks" of Wagner's "Ring," recorded in London and Berlin between 1926 and 1932, are generally exciting and well-sung performances, but a lot of the British and German singers used were really just repiteurs of their time. The really golden voices belong to Florence Austral, young Melchior, Friedrich Schorr and Florence Easton, though Walter Widdop was much better Heldentenor than one usually finds today and certainly deserves honorable mention.

The most frustrating thing about this set, aside from its episodic nature, was the schizophrenic use of five different conductors, each of whom had an entirely different way of shaping and pacing the work. Of the two used most frequently, Albert Coates and Leo Blech, Coates was decidedly the greater conductor. Every single note of every single phrase he conducts on these records has life, drive, clarity of texture, proper weighty tone and an almost palpable excitement. Indeed, in my view Coates is the most underrated conductor who recorded in history, and deserves to be better known for ALL of his work.

The price is a little steep, but if you get the set, do yourself a favor, JUST listen to the Coates-conducted excerpts first, then go back and listen to the whole thing. You'll quickly see what I mean. My biggest frustration was that Coates was not chosen to conduct the final scene from "Siegfried" with Melchior and the greatly-underappreciated Florence Easton, who though she was not as good as Austral was certainly an outstanding singer. Mark Obert-Thorn has done a good job of transferring these old records. The original 78s had a LOT of hiss and "sandpaper" sound in them, since they were issued at a time when Victor and HMV were putting EMERY powder in the grooves to minimize needle wear. (Emery powder is the same kind of thing you file your nails with, so you can imagine how abrasive the sound is even on mint-condition discs!) In doing so, he has of necessity scraped a little of the overtones off as well, leaving a slightly "grainy" sound in soft wind and vocal passages, but that is a small price to pay for eliminating what used to be called "bacon frying" on the old records.

Recommended with the above reservations.

The greatest Wagner singing - bar none.......2005-08-16

This is the Ring that John Culshaw had so much fun with in his book, Ring Resounding, about the making of the Solti Ring. And he had a point. Yes, there is barely a third of the tetralogy recorded here (more than `bleeding chunks' but far less than the whole). Yes, we dart between London and Berlin and occasionally Vienna seemingly at will. Yes conductors (who didn't seem to be thought of as very important in those days) can change within scenes. So, on occasion, can singers - Act 2 of Walkure, for instance, has 2 Wotans, 2 Brunnhildes, 2 Sieglindes and Wotan No.2 doubles as Hunding! BUT...

But here is some of the most glorious singing you will hear on any Ring recording. Ever.

These days it seems to be the 50's that are lauded as the Golden Age of Wagner Singing - Hotter, Varnay, Nilsson, Flagstad (still), Windgassen, Vickers et al. But Hotter, magisterial and charismatic god that he could be, was prone to being hooty and woolly and even a bit wobbly, especially on an asthmatic day. Nilsson's awe-inspiring steely brilliance could leave her sounding a little cold and impersonal. At the other extreme, Flagstad's richer tones could make her sound a little maternal for my taste (Brunnhilde may be Siegfried's aunt, but she's not his mother!). Varnay was blisteringly committed in everything she did, but the voice as a voice? No cigar. Windgassen's Siegfried lacked the last ounce or two of vocal heft and he was apt to husband his resources a bit too much, especially in his eponymous opera. And so on.

But go back a generation further and wow! It's in a different class.

Let's start with Friedrich Schorr since he's the first of these greats to appear on these discs. In Wotan's `Abendlich strahlt' from Rheingold he is simply magnificent. This is a baritone bass-baritone as opposed to Hotter's bass bass-baritone (think Norman Bailey vs. John Tomlinson for modern local equivalents - on second thoughts, don't: it's not fair on two excellent Wotans!). Schorr's voice in 1927 was in prime nick (it got a bit strained at the top a decade or so later); focused, controlled, ample and with what I can only describe as a beat to it rather than any suggestion of wobble that gave it colour and character. Then there is the intelligence he brought to the character and the text. This is fully illustrated by taking practically any part of his role from Walkure - from the father issuing orders to his daughter through the crushed husband, the blind frustration of `heilige Schmach', the towering anger of Act 3 right through to what must be the definitive performance of the Farewell - certainly the one I always hear in my mind's ear. The Wanderer in Siegfried is no less wonderfully sung and the character has grown in maturity and resignation as well as gaining a sense of humour in his scenes with Mime and Alberich.

Frida Leider's Brunnhilde strikes a perfect balance between the steeliness of a Nilsson and the mumsiness of a Flagstad. John Steane described her voice as "existing at that rarely achieved point where the heroic has not become inhuman and where the human does not undermine tragic dignity". Precisely. This is amply demonstrated in bar after bar of Walkure from the teenage whoops of her war cry through the inwardness and growing confidence of her plea to her father to the crowning heroic glory of her grand idea for a fire-girt rock and a hero to brave it, singing with reckless abandon and thrilling security at the same time. Sadly she is not with us for Siegfried or Gotterdammerung, though we get her earlier set of the last (butchered) scene of Siegfried with Rudolf Laubenthal as a consolation. I wish there had been room for her nonpareil of an Immolation, even though it wasn't part of the original set.

The last of this triumvirate of unmatchable Wagner singers was, of course, Lauritz Melchior as Siegfried. His voice is simply a phenomenon - tireless, with a distinctive ring throughout its range, towering when loud (forging the sword), capable of real beauty and poetry when soft (the Forest Murmurs) and not as prone to rhythmical sloppiness as he's often made out to be. We have not heard his like before or since and probably never will.

The rest of the cast are no slouches either. Walter Widdop as Siegmund can hold his head high in this esteemed company; Gota Ljunberg is a wonderful Sieglinde, young, sexy, alive to the rising passion of Act 1, the hysteria of Act 2 and the glorious outburst of maternalism in Act 3 alike. I have to say, I've never quite got it with most people's favourite Sieglinde, Lotte Lehmann (the Fidelio Leonora, yes, that's a different matter), so for me Ljungberg is probably the best of them all. Florence Austral is the Brunnhilde of Gotterdammerung - at her best in a Dawn Duet with Widdop as Siegfried, egged on by urgent conducting from Albert Coates (far and away the most exciting conductor on these discs). Her Immolation is excellent, if not enough to erase memories of Leider. Ivar Andresen is the blackest of Hagens (enough to make Frick sound cuddly!), Emmi Leisner an implacable Fricka and Maartje Offers a Waltraute who really draws you in to her narrative.

It was122 sides on its original issue and in sound that is really staggeringly good (as it comes up on these Pearl discs produced by the ever reliable Mark Obert-Thorn), considering it was recorded just a few years after the introduction of electric recording.

If you love Wagner singing of the absolutely highest standards and already have your favourite modern-sound version sorted, don't hesitate: treat yourself to the many, many unmatched performances on these discs, all for less than the price of a pretty dodgy seat at the opera house.

An abolute must.......2005-03-08

This magnificent compilation of the greatest Wagner singers and conductors of the 20s and early 30s is an absolute MUST for everyone who is remotely interrested in how Wagner was done in the past.
The greatest attractions are the magnificent interpretations of Friedrich Schorr, Frida Leider and the young Lauritz Melchior. Schorr sings Wotan in the excerpts from Die Walkure and Leider sings Brunnhilde. Melchior sings the young Siegfried. There is so much to treasure in this set. The English tenor Walter Widdop sings Siegmund and Swedish soprano Gota Ljungberg sings Sieglinde. The Walkure and Siegfried excerpts are quite consistant in the casting. Mime is sung by different tenors in Siegfried and although Wanderer is sung by Schorr in acts 1 and 2, the role is sung by two others Emil Schippers and Rudolf Bockelmann in act 3. None of them are as noble or as magnifient sounding as Schorr. Florence Easton sings Brunnhilde with Melchior in the duet at the end of the opera.
Gotterdammerung, though, is much less consistantly cast, the only consistant casting being Florence Austral as Brunnhilde. The excerpts are much more spread and more brief than on Siegfried, which had almost all of Siegfried's scenes intact. Siegfried is sung by Walter Widdop in the prologue and acts 1 and 2 and Horst Laubenthal in act 3. These two are not as great as Melchior (who is?), but is still quite excellent. Hagen is done by Arthur Fear, Ivar Andresen, Emanuel List. Andresen sings Hagen's watch (Hier sitz ich zur Wacht) and the calling of the Vassals (Hoiho! Hoihohoho!). He is the most chilling and exciting Hagen I have ever heard. His rendition, especially the calling of the vassals, is really dominating and every time I hear it gives me shivers. No other Hagen is quite as compelling is evil sounding without overdoing it. He is, for me, the main attraction of the Gotterdammerung part of the set.
The set also includes small excerpts of Rheingold with Schorr's rendition of the entry of the Gods to Vallhalla as the main attraction. And in addition to this there is an extra recording of parts of the Siegfried with Laubenthal and Leider. This scene is a little differently done than with Melchior and Easton, but both are great.
I have not said anything about the magnificent conductors here. Main parts of act 1 of Walkure is done by the great Albert Coates and somewhat less successfully by Lawrence Collingwood. Coates and Leo Blech dominates the rest of the Ring excerpts with scenes done by John Barbirolli, Robert Heger and Carl Alwin. But the most exciting conducting of all is done by the magnificent Karl Muck in Siegfried's Rhine Journey and Funeral March. The Rhine Journey is done with so much youngfullness and describes the young hero's journey magnificently. The Funeral March is done very solemnly and very much as a tribute to the great fallen hero.

So I would highly recommend this to all who is remotely interested in historical recordings or would want to know how Wagner was done is the past. The sound is really exceptional for its time and it is as good as any release from Pearl who is highly regarded as one of the best labels who releases historical recordings.

The Best Second "Ring".......2003-02-27

After coming to know, love and perhaps becoming obsessed with the Ring through one of the modern stereo versions (e.g., Solti), you may want to hear another version. In my view, this classic version is the single best second Ring to get. It represents the fruit of a tremendous pre-War undertaking featuring many of the finest Wagnerian singers and musicians of the era giving performances that are astounding. Seventy-plus years later, the voice of Lauritz Melchior (for example) does not cease to amaze.

The sound is just fine for its era. Pearl has done an excellent job remastering and joining the sides (remember, these were 78s). I can't recommend this set highly enough.

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