Stokowski's Wagner

Richard [Classical] Wagner (Composer), Matthias Bamert (Conductor), BBC Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Matthias Bamert
• Composer: Richard [Classical] Wagner
• Audio CD (April 13, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00000IM75
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,194 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #99 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Languages > German

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Move along folks, nothing interesting here..., March 3, 2008

By 

dv_forever (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Stokowski's Wagner (Audio CD)

Stokowski put together some orchestral synthesizes of Wagner's various operas and played them with gusto and life. Even if Stokowski was never a great Wagner conductor and had to play games with the score, he was a sorceror of sound and could create magic from time to time.

This CD comprises some of those orchestral "synthesis" concoctions and is conducted by Matthias Bamert. Well, to say that Bamert is no Stokowski is to state the obvious. These performances are abysmal and insipid in a way that is a great disservice to what Wagner's music is all about and what Stokowski was originally trying to do, which is to showcase the gorgeous orchestral sounds of these operas. There is no passion here at all. Bamert's performances are utterly bloodless.

I would say stick to the original scores as conducted by Karajan, Furtwangler and Solti. They run circles around Bamert, who on this CD sounds like a completely inept conductor. I give this CD two stars since Chandos provides it's typically beautiful digital sound but nothing can save these lifeless performances.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, November 12, 2007

By 

Mr. Allan K. Steel (Sydney, AUS) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stokowski's Wagner (Audio CD)

Very good sound and performances.

Though the new Serebrier/Naxos version has super sound and is better, particularly for the Tristan.

But having the full Wotan's Farewell in orchestral arrangement is really great: hard to find that elsewhere.

So very good overall.