Customer Reviews

Wagner: The Ring (highlights)

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NOTE: This review is taken from the EMI issue of Haitink's Ring Highlights.

This CD, which contains highlights from Bernard Haitink's rendition of Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen, can be a very good introduction to those who are interested in Wagner Romantic Opera in general. Naming it one of the definitive versions, however, can be very debatable. There are literally dozens of versions for this 15-hour opera tetralogy. Various conductors (Klemens Krauss, Sir Georg Solti, Herbert von Karajan, Marek Janowski, Daniel Barenboim, etc.) have given us very different interpretations. Solti is more on the bombastic side, while Karajan is more on the lyrical side. Janowski takes a straightforward approach, whereas Barenboim mixes everything (intense, calm, etc.) all at once. Haitink is more like Janowski: he focuses more on the actual structures of the opera rather than the raw emotions that are connected to them. He's more faithful to the orchestral score, and he avoids any changes that would be associated to a conductor's high demand. It can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what people want out of this Ring. If you want a straightforward Ring, then you might want to try this particular "Highlights" CD. Be cautious, though. Some of the singers might disappoint you. While James Morris is one of the great Wotans of our time, Eva Marton is not a great Brunnhilde. She fails miserably with her weak soprano voice in many sequences, particularly in the last act of "Gotterdammerung." It's really not a listening pleasure, but more of a massacre to the ears. But aside from her, everyone else does a good job. Morris, Siegfried Jerusalem, Cheryl Studer, and others put much effort in their performances, and they succeed wonderfully. Reiner Goldberg may not have the ideal voice as Siegmund, but the intelligence of his overall performance makes up for the lack of robustness.

That pretty much sums up Haitink's Ring. It has a good conductor and decent singers (except Marton), as well as a great orchestra (Bavarian Radio Symphony). So if you're interested in Wagner's Ring Cycle, then this CD will be worth the purchase. And if you're satisfied with the listening experience, then go ahead and purchase the complete version of Haitink's Ring (or any version of the Ring for that matter). It's expensive, but once you save enough money for the complete set, you probably won't regret buying it.

P.S.
Both CD's from EMI & Classics For Pleasure are the same, except that the "Rheingold Prelude" has been omitted from the CFP release. I have no idea why it's been taken out. Maybe to add some space on the CD, I don't know.

Listening to these excerpts makes me want to obtain the whole Haitink Ring cycle (of which there are some excellent reviews here on amazon). I was immediately struck by the clear recorded sound and the wonderful playing of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Based on the excerpts, Haitink offers a brisk but controlled reading that captures the grandeur and angst of the drama without overdoing it. The singers are excellent.

I have many Ring cycles (Barenboim, Krauss, and Keilberth cycles are my current favorites) and was not looking to obtain another. However, the excellent playing on this disk may have reeled me in to another cycle purchase. Be warned!