Customer Reviews

Highlights From the Ring

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Perhaps it's too much to expect Donald Runnicles to be completely inspired. At the same time, it's pleasant to experience a second-tier conductor operating at the top of his game. The Dresden Staatskapelle is one of my favorite European orchestras with a rich, distinct sound that is perfect for Wagner. I don't listen to much orchestral excerpts anymore, vastly preferring the full music dramas themselves with all the glorious singing connected to an ever enfolding narrative structure. Playing some of my favorite scenes or an entire act is much more rewarding. Be that as it may, orchestral excerpts from The Ring will always have their place as it's the way most listeners are introduced to this towering work of art.

Really great Ring selections are rare and many would just prefer to have Solti's Ring cycle and not bother with the small stuff. George Szell's selection has had critical approval through the decades and I enjoy it too but it's good to go digital. Stokowski is another safe bet for some. Here we have Runnicles at the top of his game leading a terrific orchestra with fine digital sound. The opening Ride of the Valkyries is muscular and fierce. Then we have Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire Music without Wotan. It is good going in music one rarely hears without the singer. The Forest Murmurs from Siegfried is followed by the Rhine Journey with Runnicles handling all the transitions well. The highlight of the whole CD I think is the Funeral March joined with the finale of the Immolation Scene. In this, Runnicles follows Szell's footsteps, turning two separate scenes into one tone poem. The climaxes in the Immolation Scene and nearly overwhelming, Runnicles using the live concert setting to his advantage to truly assault the listener. The Siegfried Idyll follows after and this gentle music is a smooth caress after the finale of The Ring. I think Karajan's Siegfried Idyll from his live Vienna concert is the best I've ever heard so Runnicles can't win here. This is an enjoyable trek through some of the great cycle's most famous moments. I just wish it was even more intense from time to time but then I always have Solti or Furtwangler to fill the gap.

This recording contains excerpts from "Der Ring des Nibelungen", performed during Decaember 1996 in Dresden. I guess this recording was edited a little bit on the mastering process, but we can get glowing orchestral sound, and high density performance.
This recording is very good recording sound, suitable at TELDEC's fame(TELDEC's sound quality is probably the best of all world's major recording company-for example, Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Decca Records, Co, Ltd.). This Record are in no way inferior to the other audio file recording.
Conductor Donald Runnicles is well known about San Francisco(where he holds the music director) Ring and Vienna State Opera Ring, and he shows his reputation firmly in this recording. His conducting is very clear, dynamic, and moderate.
Sound of Dresden Staatskapelle(State Orchestra) is even radiant, though the recording was made at Saechsische Staatsoper Dresden(Dresden State Opera House). It has the reverberation of orchestra quite much(in contrast with Beethoven's 9th by Sinopoli's Conduct, recorded at same place), and sound ringing is very clear. Very enjoyable to listening!
Wagner mania, or Wagner entrance, both can be amply satisfied through this recording. I could be acquinted with "Der Ring des Nibelungen" well through this recording. Strongly Recommand!!