Der Ring des Niebelungen

[ahowle]

I've come to the realization that the recordings I have of Rheingold, Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung are not very good. They're old, poor-quality recordings that I obtained at very little expense.

I want to get a good recording. I was looking at the 1982 Solti recording. Are there any recordings that just stand out as being really good (especially brasswise) that I should get over this recording? Thanks,

Austin

[rodmathews]

The Metropolitan Opera recordings with James Levine are fantastic. Herb Wekselblatt playing on a Bb tuba is the perfect sound, and the brass section sounds amazing. Julie Landsman lays down the Siegfried calls like nobody else can, and the singers are fantastic.

Rod

[Matt G]

Just shell out the bucks and get the Solti/Vienna stuff.

Bob Tucci on tuba and a lot of other goodies.

I saw a film on them making this recording. Very interesting. They went so far as to duplicate the staging of the vocalists on a grid to replicate their place when performing.

I have this set and it is fantastic. Too bad I just can't sit there long enough to listen too all of it, let alone one of the four...

[Mudman]

I second the vote for the Levine/Met recordings. The recordings are very clear sounding, and the playing is first-rate.

Other versions are exciting in different ways--buy them all

[ahowle]

I have this set and it is fantastic. Too bad I just can't sit there long enough to listen too all of it, let alone one of the four...

Hehe, I must be wierd. I listened to Walküre all the way through yesterday and am almost finished with Götterdämmerung tonight...


Thanks guys, I guess I'll probably get the Solti one since I've already found it. If any of you know of any other good recordings let me know.

[finnbogi]

Just shell out the bucks and get the Solti/Vienna stuff.

That's what I did a few years ago (I actually got the boxed set for about 100€ in Berlin), and I don't regret it. Not only is the VPO superb and the recording excellent, it's also well worth the money to hear all the great singers on the recording; singers like Hans Hotter, Kurt Böhme, Wolfgang Windgassen, Kirsten Flagstad, Christa Ludwig and Birgit Nilsson to name but a few.