Customer Reviews

Stokowski's Wagner

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.