Wagner: Das Rheingold

James Morris (Artist), Christa Ludwig (Artist), Kurt Moll (Artist), Heinz Zednik (Artist), Jan-Hendrik Rootering (Artist), Siegfried Jerusalem (Artist), Ekkehard Wlaschiha (Artist), Richard Wagner (Composer), James Levine (Conductor), Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: James Levine
• Composer: Richard Wagner
• Audio CD (May 15, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Polygram Records / DG
• ASIN: B000001GAW
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,473 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #49 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Ludwig, Christa

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Vorspiel-Prelude-Prelude-Preludio - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig (Fricka), Siegfried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkehard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednick(Mime)

2. Weia ! Waga! Woge, Du Welle! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig (Fricka), Siegfried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkehard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednick(Mime)

3. Lugt, Schwestern ! Die Weckerin Lacht In Den Grund - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig (Fricka), Siegfried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkehard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednick(Mime)

4. Der Welt Erbe Gewann Ich Zu Eigen Durch Dich? - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig (Fricka), Siegfried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkehard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednick(Mime)

5. Wotan! Gemahl! Erwache! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig (Fricka), Siegfried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkehard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednick(Mime)

6. Sanft Schloss Schlaf Dein Aug - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig (Fricka), Siegfried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkehard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednick(Mime)

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Das Rheingold: Dirs Zu Melden Gelobt Ich Den Madchen - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

2. Das Rheingold: Uber Stock Und Stein Zu Tal - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

3. Das Rheingold: Wotan, Gemahl, Unsel Ger Mann! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

4. Das Rheingold: Hehe! Hehe! Heiher! Heiher! Tuckischer Zwerg! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

5. Das Rheingold: Wer Halfe Mir? - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

6. Das Rheingold: Was Wollt Ihr Hier? - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

See all 8 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Das Rheingold: Da Vetter Sitze Du Fest! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

2. Das Rheingold: Gezahlt Hab Ich: Nun Lasst Mich Ziehn! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

3. Das Rheingold: Bin Ich Nun Frei? - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

4. Das Rheingold: Fasolt Und Fafner Nahen Von Fern - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

5. Das Rheingold: Freia, Die Schone, Schau Ich Nicht Mehr - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

6. Das Rheingold: Weiche, Wotan, Weiche! - James Morris(Wotan), Christa Ludwig(Fricka), Siegried Jerusalem(Loge), Ekkhard Wlaschiha(Alberich), Kurt Moll(Fasolt), Jan-Hendrik Rootering(Fafner), Heinz Zednik(Mime)

See all 10 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The best Rheingold to come out of America, September 24, 2005

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wagner: Das Rheingold (Audio CD)

It's no small achievement for James Levine to have persuaded DG to let a Ring cycle be recorded in nYw York, so it's a shame the results werre not altogether happy. The Met's roster of Wagner singers included the best in the world at the time (the late 80s), but without a fine Brunnhilde, Siegfried, or Siegmund, there's only so much that can be done.

This Rheingold is the best of the lot, since none of those problematic roles are required. When I first heard this set, Levine's measured tempos bothered me, but he is no slower than Furtwangler, and in compensation there is a great deal of fine inner detail and wonderufl playing from the Met orchestra. Vocally, Levine has asked for scrupulous attention to the text--this is the most naturally conversational Wagner I'v ever heard. James Morris is an outstanding Wotan, and all the minor roles, particularly the three Rhinemaidens, are very well cast. The only clinker is Christa Ludwig as Fricka, a great singer well past her prime. Since Rheingold is an ensemble opera, the Met was fortunate to have such depth in its roster even though some of the singers are not well known.

In all, I would rank this a very good set, just behind the unsurpassed Karajan, also on DG, from the mid-Sixties.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, April 24, 2006

By 

Mr. Allan K. Steel (Sydney, AUS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wagner: Das Rheingold (Audio CD)

I would say this is the best of the 7 Rheingolds I have.

The sound and the orchestral playing is simply superb and clearer than any other recording. Heaps better than Solti or Karajan.

The singers are all excellent; not one of them is weak.

Probably Janowski (with P. Schreier excellent as Loge) is the other best Rheingold.