Wagner: Orchestral Favourites ~ Solti / Vienna Phil.

Richard [Classical] Wagner (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: Richard [Classical] Wagner
• Audio CD (October 11, 1994)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000422O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,370 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WAGNER + VPO + SOLTI = MUSICAL GREATNESS, September 23, 2003

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NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wagner: Orchestral Favourites ~ Solti / Vienna Phil. (Audio CD)

Say what you will about your favorite recording of this or that Wagner opera. There has never been a better long term Wagner "cycle" than the one that came from the partnership between Sir Georg Solti and the Wiener Philharmoniker. This collection of orchestral excerpts is, in its own way, every bit as worthwhile.

Here in two discs (for the price of one no less) we have a great sampling of what makes Wagner's music so moving and magical. Just listen to the preludes from Tristan and Parsifal or the Funeral March from Die Götterdämmerung--this is stuff that revolutionized how we think of music.

Some might quibble that an average of 61 minutes of music per disc is a little stingy--especially when some of the usual suspects (The Ride of the Valkyries springs most readily to mind) have been left out. Some might also find the sound in need of a bit of cleaning. I'd agree.

But I'd also give this recording my heartfelt recommendation. These pieces in the expert hands of Solti and the VPO are well worth having. Don't hesitate to get a copy for yourself.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The full panoply of Solti and the Vienna Phil. in Wagner, July 8, 2006

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Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wagner: Orchestral Favourites ~ Solti / Vienna Phil. (Audio CD)

Most Solti collecitons of Wagner overtures mix and match his readings with the Vienna Phil. and his own Chicago Sym., but here we get familiar chestnuts from the operas exclusively taken from the full operas recorded by Solti in Vienna as well as msicellaneous excerpts LPs. As such, this bargain Double Decca allows us to view the full panoply of a great collaboration that began in the Fifties and ended in the Eighties. (The earliest item here is a Tristan Prelude from 1960, the latest a Lohengrin Act 1 Prelude from 1985.)

What's the overall verdict? Undeniable brilliance and visceral excitment, but somewhat short shrift as far as depth and emotion go. The shortcomings are minimized when it comes to overtures and preludes, however. As is abundantly evident here, Solti revolutionized Wagner recordings by bringing sonic splendor into the picture (albeit these classic Decca blockbusters often have too much edge and brightness in their digital guise).

In sum, a must-listen, especially if you can buy this two-fer on the used market.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I recommend for those who don't already own a lot of Wagner ~, December 15, 2011

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Christopher Barrett (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wagner: Orchestral Favourites ~ Solti / Vienna Phil. (Audio CD)

So lately I have gotten hooked on Wagner thanks to Solti and his ways! Blast you Georg! So I have been snatching up many Wagner recordings with Solti leading the Vienna Philharmonia. This was an interesting little set with Wagner's orchestral works assembled from various Decca recordings.

The only reason I give it four stars is because it's a little short on content for 2 discs, about 120 minutes (some Decca double deckers have 150-180 minutes) and it seems a little less magical than the full recordings of the operas. Listening to the overtures is all well and good, but then I want to hear the rest and then I have to dig out a complete recording. For those like me who have purchased many Wagner operas, then this set might be overkill. But for those who are looking for a good cross section of Wagner Orchestral works, this is a good set.

A previous review mentioned the audio could be cleaned up a bit. I agree, though certain pieces from this collection are in more need than others. You'll know when you hear them (if you notice it - I don't want to mention which ones and pre-dispose people to listening specifically for it!).

A very good compilation from one of the best Wagner conductor/symphony combos in Georg Solti and Vienna.