Wagner: Gotterdammerung [Box set]

Wolfgang Windgassen (Artist), Birgit Nilsson (Artist), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Artist), Gottlob Frick / Christa Ludwig (Artist), Dame Gwyneth Jones (Artist), Gustav Neidlinger (Artist), Richard Wagner (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Vienna State Opera Chorus (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vienna State Opera Chorus
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: Richard Wagner
• Audio CD (October 14, 1997)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000042H8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,032 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: WAGNER,R.
Title: GOTTERDAMMERUNG-COMP OPERA
Street Release Date: 10/14/1997
Domestic
Genre: OPERA/OPERETTA

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful performance of Wagner's "powerful" opera, November 17, 2004

By 

wagnerite (Boynton Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner: Gotterdammerung (Audio CD)

As the 3rd act (and finale) of the Ring cycle (with Walkure being act 1, Siegfried as act 2, and Rheingold as a prelude), it contains some of the most powerful music by Wagner, and needless to say, some of the most powerful music.

What is meant by powerful? Well, it is literal: This opera is full of power, in both its drama and its music. As such, it requires powerful singing, a powerful hand to control the music, and musicianship that can rise to the level needed to bring the impact of the power of this work to its fullest. The Solti Gotterdammerung does precisely that.

Gotterdammerung also contains some basic orchestral standards that are unsurpassed in this recording:

1. Dawn and Siegfried's Journey to the Rhine--The only comparable version I've heard of this piece is Furtwangler's, and his "Dawn" is just amazing! Solti comes close, which is quite good. Furthermore, the pace and power of the Rhine music is just right. The brass (often dominant) and the strings (with their sweep) are intricately balanced. The net effect is extremely thrilling.

2. Siegfried's March--A difficult piece to conduct right. The version captured here is actually at a faster pace than Solti wanted, but Culshaw wanted the music to flow strongly. I agree with the assessment, and as a result, we have a fantastic interpretation of a potentially delicate piece. Too slow, and the effect is lost; too fast, and there is a lack of the severity and solemnity of the scene.

3. Immolation Scene--This is where "the fat lady sings." Many of the leitmotifs of the opera come together in massive interweaving of thrilling music. It is sometimes difficult music to listen to in the sense that there is considerable amount of chromaticism employed. The so-called "redemption" motif is underneath Brunnhilde's last words to her love for Siegfried, but its harmonic progression is unsettled, even agonizing. The same goes for the heavy brass used in the actual twilight section after the immolation, where the "Valhalla" motif rises ever higher in each bar, but the chords denote tension. Nonetheless, this is among the most powerful pieces of music ever written, and it could be argued that there was just no other way to achieve the incredible effect of a tragic ending, followed by the hope of the redemption motif.

While these pieces are very powerful in their own right, there is very little "filler" in this opera. There are many parts that are thrilling and powerful in their own right. But to pull of the entire opera and all its glorious and tragic moments, many things must work together to achieve the pinnacle. This Decca set captures all of those, namely: Solti's dynamic directing, the VPO's amazing orchestral performance, and the singers' vocals all rise to the occasion. An added benefit is John Culshaw's vision actually bringing this work to its fullest fruition.

The result is an amazing effort overall. Although I consider the Decca Siegfried the closest to perfection (see my review there), this is a very close second. It is truly a work that can be savored at different levels.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, July 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wagner: Gotterdammerung (Audio CD)

Lucky enough to hear the Met's recent "Ring" production, I found this recording absolutely breathtaking. With Solti no longer with us, it is sometimes easy to forget the energy he brought to every piece of music he performed. No more so than with Wagner and "Gotterdammerung." He gives the music so much power and bite that it feels like a living thing. And the remastered recording is simply superb. The incomparable Nilsson's voice floats over the entire endeavor with a musicality that is remarkable given the vocal demands of the opera. For me, though, Windgassen's Siegfried stole the show. It feels at times that he is laughing at Wagner's vocal pyrotechnics. This is truly a recording for the ages.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Wen die Minne freut, meinem frohen Muthe thu' es der Gluckliche gleich!", September 7, 2007

By 

Eric S. Kim (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner: Gotterdammerung (Audio CD)

The definite conclusion to the Ring Cycle is found here: Gotterdammerung. This is probably the most bombastic rendition I've ever heard. Not even Bohm as enough bombast that's found here. But anyway, this is a mixed bag.

PROS: The orchestra and singers and fantastic. Vienna Philhamronic never ceases to keep my attention directly into the story. Windgassen, Nilsson, Neidlinger, Frick, and others are what make this Ring truly special.

CONS: The bombastic power can be very off-putting to some people. And the sound effects are completely unecessary: I'd rather have the effects in a live recording, thank you very much.

Nevertheless, this is a provocative achievement from Solti and John Culshaw. Sorry I had to keep this review short, but I hope this is still helpful commentary.

Das Rheingold: Das Rheingold
Die Walkure: Die Walkure
Siegfried: Siegfried

Box Set: Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sir Georg Solti