Wagner: Siegfried (abridged)

Richard [Classical] Wagner (Composer), Albert Coates (Conductor), Carl Alwin (Conductor), Robert Heger (Conductor), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Vienna State Opera Orchestra (Orchestra), Albert Reiss (Performer), Dr. Emil Schipper (Performer), Eduard Habich (Performer), Florence Easton (Performer), Friedrich Schorr (Performer), Heinrich Tessmer (Performer), Lauritz Melchior (Performer), Maria Olczewska (Performer), Maria Olszewska (Performer), Nora Gruhn (Performer), Rudolf Bockelmann (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Albert Reiss, Dr. Emil Schipper, Eduard Habich, Florence Easton, Friedrich Schorr, et al.
• Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Orchestra
• Conductor: Albert Coates, Carl Alwin, Robert Heger
• Composer: Richard [Classical] Wagner
• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Opera D'oro
• ASIN: B00004XSJC
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #570,589 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an overwhelming performance, June 13, 2001

By 

Michael Kirtley "Amazon fan" (new haven, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wagner: Siegfried (abridged) (Audio CD)

I purchased this title after reading that Siegfried was the most "inaccessible" of the Ring operas. I wanted to save money, so I bought the least expensive version I could find. From the first time I played it, however, I was riveted: the opening sequence bristles with foreboding, and an aura of incontrovertable fate haunts the entire performance. Melchior is at his peak (if you have never heard him before, his 1930's and 40's heldentenor has never been equaled elsewhere for warmth, depth, and power). The sound quality is surprisingly good -- in fact, any imperfections of sound only serve to enhance the brooding atmosphere. I now have the Solti and Barenboim versions -- they are both fine, but this is the one I return to. I truly believe it is sung and played as Wagner would have wished. The price is right; this set is a treasure.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE FORGING!, June 13, 2003

By 

Richard P. Kelley (brooklyn, ny United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wagner: Siegfried (abridged) (Audio CD)

I'm not the biggest Wagner fan in the world, but the Forging of the sword in Siegfried has to be one of my favorite moments in Wagner, the music is so exciting, the music essentially forges the sword right before your eyes, while Mime is forging. And Melchior is beyond compare. Part of the fun of listening to forging is just the sort of jaw dropping "How can he keep that up? He's got 3 more acts to go!" which Melchior, more than any other tenor, supplies amply. He's just unbelieveable. Never a strain, and just a tremendous voice that soars out over the orchestra. One little thing is that they don't tell you who's playing Fafner, which is a little annoying, but he's the weakest link anywho. And of course Florence Easton is just great. Their "duet" at the end is fabulous. But if you get this for anything......it's the FORGING! And for 10 bucks when most Wagner sets cost anything from 60-70 bucks...........what are you waiting for? The only pity is that it's not a full recording. Alas. It's still worth it for the cheapness.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Expectations, May 20, 2011

By 

Classicalman (Pontiac, MI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wagner: Siegfried (abridged) (Audio CD)

Where do I begin? I took a chance on a recording without really looking that it was taken from three performances in the 1920s and 30s with the same two lead singers - Easton and Melchior. When I realized it, I thought "damn" was I asleep when I ordered? So, then I expected sound that would be aboriginal - dull voices and/or orchestra with the same deficiency. What I got was shock! Firstly - the engineers who transferred material from the 1920s and 30s should have received an award. The transfers are absolutely astonishing, the sound of both the voices and orchestra being so well defined and clean that I was taken aback. Now, this is a performance taken from three conductors and three different venues, perhaps we should learn something? They create atmoshphere! We are at an occasion! The singers do that, also, and they act! Wagner's masterpiece brought to life. Without doubt, this is well beyond what I expected. It should never be out of the catalogue.