Overtures & Preludes

Richard Wagner (Artist), Daniel Barenboim (Artist), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 9, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000000SS2
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,485 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Der fliegende Hollander

2. Tannhauser

3. Lohengrin: Act I

4. Lohengrin: Act III

5. Overtures And Preludes: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg

6. Tristan und Isolde: Prelude - Liebestod

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solti Surpassed, April 29, 2000

By 

Robert S. Eisenberg (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Overtures & Preludes (Audio CD)

The Chicago Symphony has always been famous for its brass playing and Wagner, with Solti's recordings the standard for the industry. Barenboim has now surpassed that standard in a recording that will astonish those familiar with the difficulties of the music, setting a standard of excellence and musicality (with one exception)that will be hard to exceed. The exception is where speed is chosen to display athleticism. And that has its own pleasure.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb playing, October 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Overtures & Preludes (Audio CD)

Having just read "Wagner Remembered" by Stewart Spencer, my first real contact with Richard Wagner, I felt compelled to at least listen to some of the music and with this CD I purchased my first listen at Wagner. Subsequently wanting to hear more than just the overtures I purchased the "Twightlight of the Gods" Cd (Apocalypse Now Helicopters on the cover-Orchestra and Conductor unidentified), so there is some basis for comparison. Had Richard Wagner listened to Twighlight of the Gods he would have thrown up, his systems would have been overcome. Questionable playing destroys even the best music. I mention this as a basis to compare The Chicago Sympony Orchestra on Richard Wagner, Overtures and Preludes. Without saying that somewhere it has been done better, it is difficult to imagine a rendition of this music more accurately in tune with what Wagner must have intended. There is a subtlety and scope to this recording, a beauty and breadth that makes one believe that you are looking through the mind of the composer. This is other than to say you would be unable to argue with tempo here or style there or other acquired tastes. Richard Wagner, for all his personal flaws, was one of the best composers. Use of Orchestra, imagination, emotion, melody and use of melody, etc. etc., existed in the mind of this man as in few others. CSO superbly conducted, give perfect playing and to this novice re Wagner do full justice to this great music.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dynamic, powerful recording, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Overtures & Preludes (Audio CD)

The CSO plays these pieces with the power, fire and passion they deserve. The sounds is impeccable...first rate modern performace and recording!