Ring

Wagner (Artist), Hotter (Artist), Varnay (Artist), Knappertsbusch (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 13
• Label: Music & Arts Program
• ASIN: B000001OJJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,542,711 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

No sooner had Melodram issued Hans Knappertsbusch's 1956 Bayreuth Ring--far superior to his draggy 1957/8 efforts--than Music & Arts followed suit. The differences lie with the packaging. M&A's jewel boxes take up more shelf space, yet they squeeze Die Walküre onto three rather four discs. They sweeten the ante by selling the thirteen-disc set for the price of ten. M&A's annotations, however, take the cake, as William Youngren underlines Knappertsbusch's virtues and defects with rare perception and fairness. While the M&A discs are mastered at a higher level than the Melodram set, there's more tape hiss--Melodram's master may be a generation closer to the source tape. Both editions let the last note of Act 2 dovetail smack into the Act 3 Prelude with scarcely a second to breathe, but M&A boasts superior side breaks. In truth, if you must have a fifties Bayreuth Ring, the 1953 Clemens Krauss is much cheaper, and crackles rather than creaks. But if you're an unrepentant Knappertsbuschite, 1956 is the way to go. You choose the label. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great Gotterdammerung!, March 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ring (Audio CD)

Opening chords very longing. When the rope of the Norns break, it's thrilling. Windgassen has his very characteristic, recognizable Siegfried-voice (ex. Solti). Greindl a memorable Hagen. And Varnay as the Brunnhilde of the 50's!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Ring, January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ring (Audio CD)

This is the best Ring that I ever heard. The production of Wieland Wagner was in the optimum moment. The singers: Varnay, Windgassen, Greindl are in the maximum of their faculties. Kna was better that Keilberth. Enjoy him!