Wagner's Ring cycle must be very trying for even the most patient of listeners. As such I am grateful that conductors and arrangers have come up with stand-alone concert arrangements and even CD-length distillations of excerpts from the operas in the cycle.
Maazel got the ball rolling when Telarc suggested he put together a jumbo-sized Ring suite and record it as a CD with the Berliners. Up until then most people who wanted a taste of the Ring without words could get recordings of the concert arrangements that Herrman Zumpe prepared during Wagner's lifetime. These were stand-alone excerpts and did not quite gel well together into a whole. Maazel's potted Ring was the first such digest that I know of at this date of writing. Since then, Henk de Vlieger and Friedmann Dressler have come up with similar jumbo-sized Ring suites.
My general impression of this Maazel digest is that it seems better at conveying the various moods of the opera than at telling the story. He is generous in including many well-known passages, but at times the joins are sudden and clunky. As such the brushstrokes are not exactly smooth. Also, I note that at times Maazel's selection might not be where the action is. We hear a chunk of Wotan's farewell to Brunnhilde but not the Magic Fire because the music dissolves so abruptly into the Siegfried stretch. That said, I find that the synthesis is stronger in the second half than in the first.
This particular compilation gets off to a shaky start after the Rhinegold prelude. It cuts straight to the first iteration of the Valhalla theme rather than to the opening scene with the Rhinemaidens. To my mind, the use of the first iteration of the Valhalla theme overlooks the pyrrhic victory that was achieved when the gods built it. In the Zumpe concert arrangement we hear the theme in its last iteration in this opera and it might be more apt to use this instance and context in a Ring digest like this. After the music for the Nibelheim dwarfs, Donner's thunderbolt dissolves rather abruptly into the storm at the start of The Valkyrie. Another abrupt dissolution comes after Wotan's farewell to Brunnhilde. That scene cuts off before Wotan calls Loge to surround Brunnhilde's rock with the magic fire. However, things wake up from the Forest Murmurs stretch. I don't mind the omission of the "Siegfried cadenza" in which he plays his horn before he kills Fafner. The Twilight of the Gods sequence fares best. It presents Hagen's horn call, the vassals' chorus, and Siegfried's scene with the Rhinemaidens. It skips over the moment Hagen kills Siegfried and cuts straight to his recollections of finding Brunnhilde.
I know that there are rough spots in this compilation, but Maazel is still to be commended for making the Ring palatable. No complaints about the playing of the Berliners and the superb Telarc recording. So I give credit for encouraging others to follow suit with their own jumbo-sized Ring suites. Since Maazel's suite came out, Henk de Vleiger, Friedmann Dressler and Andreas Tarkmann have produced similar Ring distillations that have been recorded. Dressler's version seems to be modelled on Maazel's suite, offering more music and getting close to the heart of the action. Still, this disc is readily affordable compared to the recent SACDs of Ring distillations. In an ideal world, a Ring suite would bring out the narrative more clearly. The Dressler and de Vlieger suite do a better job at highlighting the narrative. I tend to like De Vlieger's suite better, But I'm not disparaging this Maazel distillation for its weaknesses. In any case, let's be grateful that he opened the door for others to present their potted versions of the Ring.
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Wagner: The Ring Without Words
Richard Wagner
(Composer),
Lorin Maazel
(Conductor),
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
(Orchestra)
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Track Listings
| 1 | Thus, We Begin in the 'Greenish Twilight' of the Rhine |
| 2 | Float Up to the Home of the Gods (Entrance of the Gods Into Valhalla) |
| 3 | Fall Amongst Hammering Dwarfs 'Smithying' Away |
| 4 | Ride Donner's Thunderbolt, Crawl with the Thirst-Crazed Siegmund to the Haven |
| 5 | In the Sound Code, We 'See' His Loving Gaze |
| 6 | Their Flight |
| 7 | Wotan's Rage |
| 8 | The Cavalcade of Brde's Sisters, (Ride of the Valkyries) |
| 9 | Wotan's Farewell to His Favorite Daughter, (Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music) |
| 10 | Mime's Fright |
| 11 | Siegfried's Forging of the Magic Sword |
| 12 | His Wanderings Through the Forest, (Forest Murmurs) |
| 13 | His Slaying of the Dragon |
| 14 | The Dragon's Lament |
| 15 | Day Breaking 'Round Sigfried's and Brde's Passion |
| 16 | Siegfried's Rhine Journey, (Dawn and Sigfried's Rhine Journey) |
| 17 | Hagen's Call to His Clan |
| 18 | Siegfried and the Rhinemaidens |
| 19 | His Death and the Funeral Music, (Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music) |
| 20 | Immolation. (Immolation Scene) |
Editorial Reviews
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Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 5.55 x 5 x 0.39 inches; 3.81 Ounces
- Manufacturer : Telarc
- Item model number : 2022887
- Original Release Date : 1990
- SPARS Code : DDD
- Date First Available : December 8, 2006
- Label : Telarc
- ASIN : B000003CUJ
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #68,666 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #1,657 in Symphonies (CDs & Vinyl)
- #1,767 in Opera & Vocal (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superb Wagner Experience!
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
This is an outstanding CD; every lover of Wagner's music, especially the 'Ring' cycle, should have this TELARC CD-80154. It sounds just great, & the continuous/seamless music from one 'Ring' selection to the next is simply a fantastic idea that is executed to perfection. Lorin Maazel & the Berliner Philharmonic are to be congratulated on this splendid recording of orchestral highlights; as background music, it enhanced my recent 'Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen' PP presentation at the University of Belgrade. In fact, I purchased 3 copies so that 2 friends could also enjoy this unique CD experience. If you don't already own this incredible CD, then order it while copies are still available!Dr. H. James BirxWilliamsville, New York716 888-2745
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
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Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2015
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Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2019
I saw a musicologist that stated that Wagner composed or wrote for an hour what other composers could compress down to a few minutes of music. The Ring Cycle is bombastic to the core. Filled with allegorical concepts of Wagner's own unfortunate antisemitism, the actual music itself, though "huge" in scope, and in this way overstated, is actually pretty decent. It is unfortunate that a lot of the music is overshadowed by actual opera, however it is fortunate that TELARC released the highlighted pieces of music without the actual singing.
I actually bought this disk a couple decades back, but over the years it's gotten scratched up. So much that I bought a newer version, and the music is just as good.
I'm not a huge fan of the Ring Cycle. I guess allegedly Tolkien stole a lot of his basic Lord of the Rings story concept from this Germanic piece, but it doesn't make me dislike either music nor tale. The same goes for Wagner's prejudice against Jewish people (a trend at the time in Europe), because if you divorce yourself from his personal prejudices, you'll find the music is respectable. I'm just sorry he didn't write more solo pieces like Sigfriend's interaction with the forest's beasts, or Loki's theme as Wotan surround Brunhilde with a ring of fire. Those pieces and others a very good pieces of music.
There is of course the much over used and over done Ride of the Valkyries, popularized by many a movie. Notably Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" and "The Blue's Brothers".
I was tempted to give this disk three stars because of Wagner's own personal mindset, but the music itself is what is important, not the author's own shortcomings.
Again, I'm not a huge fan of Wagner, but this disk is very respectable.
I actually bought this disk a couple decades back, but over the years it's gotten scratched up. So much that I bought a newer version, and the music is just as good.
I'm not a huge fan of the Ring Cycle. I guess allegedly Tolkien stole a lot of his basic Lord of the Rings story concept from this Germanic piece, but it doesn't make me dislike either music nor tale. The same goes for Wagner's prejudice against Jewish people (a trend at the time in Europe), because if you divorce yourself from his personal prejudices, you'll find the music is respectable. I'm just sorry he didn't write more solo pieces like Sigfriend's interaction with the forest's beasts, or Loki's theme as Wotan surround Brunhilde with a ring of fire. Those pieces and others a very good pieces of music.
There is of course the much over used and over done Ride of the Valkyries, popularized by many a movie. Notably Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" and "The Blue's Brothers".
I was tempted to give this disk three stars because of Wagner's own personal mindset, but the music itself is what is important, not the author's own shortcomings.
Again, I'm not a huge fan of Wagner, but this disk is very respectable.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2015
I have always had rather a schizophrenic "relationship" with Richard Wagner. To begin with, as a child, I heard my parents disparage his music as "too heavy." Then , when I was about seventeen, I acquired a series of albums, in one of which was a recording of the Overture to Die Meistersinger. Wow! It was a revelation. Were my parents nuts?!!! This was glorious music! That recording was accompanied by the article "The Monster" by Deems Taylor, in which Wagner's character as a person was delineated. A fabulous composer, but a loathsome person. How to reconcile these two disparate aspects? I also learned of Wagner's virulent anti-Semitism. But the music! Thus my life-long fight with myself about this giant of the opera world. A fight that has never been resolved. In spite of this, I have recordings of all Wagner's operas...yes, even Die Feen and Das Liebesverbot! Nevertheless, I do sometimes find that listening to the complete operas can get a bit tedious. I also find, that with notable exceptions, I find his orchestral writing more powerful and appealing than his vocal writing! I know, a strange thing to say about one of the greatest of opera composers!!!! Well, hang me in effigy...that's how I feel. This brings me to the recording in question. I have a number of recordings of Wagner's orchestral music... the overtures and other highlights. I bought this particular recording when it first came out, and played it frequently. Then I lost it, and recently re-purchased it. Obviously, I love the album or I wouldn't have bothered. As I listen, the glories of The Ring unfold in my imagination. Knowing the stories, I can "fill in" the gaps. The selections, the performance and the recording are quite wonderful and give a fine overview of the monumental, supreme work of art that is The Ring. As to the personality that was Richard Wagner, that remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma!
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David Carr
4.0 out of 5 stars
A rolliocking introduction for newcomers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2017
While this is not as satisfying as hearing the full vocal versions, this is more acceptable to play in the car when we are transporting friends. The orchestrations, quality of playing and recording standard are very good, and although the transitions between the 'bleeding chunks' seems a little sharp occasionally, it does not detract from hearing the major themes. I would like to think our guests would be tempted to try the real thing following (though 16 hours of the full tetralogy is rather a bigger proposition than a 70 minute orchestral romp). It did remind me to make time to listen to the Reginald Goodall ring (a rather slower tempo but full of emotion compared with either Bohm or Solti), so that was a bonus. This is a good way to introduce the lyricism of Wager to newcomers, which you can follow with the Siegfried Idyll.
E&J2013
4.0 out of 5 stars
Does What It Says in Bold, Though Not So Much with the Small Print.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2013
This is a relatively minor complaint, but it bugged me quite a bit so I thought I'd mention it. Whoever at Telarc was responsible for taking this recording and putting it out as a product just doesn't know the Ring Cycle. The tracklist is simply guesswork from Maazel's synopsis. The second excerpt may be based on the Valhalla motif, but in fact it is the transition to scene 2 of the drama, and not, as advertised, the climactic 'Entrance of the Gods'. Likewise, while we hear both Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire Music, they are not to be found on the same track: the latter is found on the following track, advertised as 'Mime's Fright'. Finally, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we do indeed hear Siegfried's Forest Wanderings - I say surprised, because the passage in question is advertised as an excerpt from Act 1, when the Forest Wanderings occur in Act 2! My advice is that you ignore the tracklist and follow Maazel's own delightfully eloquent synopsis.
Other than that, I suppose I have the usual gripes about exclusion. My main issue is with the Siegfried excerpts. Firstly, there is proportionally much less of Siegfried than there is of the rest of the Cycle, and, most unhappily in my view, nothing from Act 3, where that drama's best music is concentrated (this is more than just 'my opinion' - Wagner began Act 3 with all the experience he had gained from writing Tristan and Die Meistersinger, after all). It would not have been difficult to extend the recording by ten more minutes, or drop the comparatively dull dragon stuff, to include the Act 3 prelude and, most important of all, some of the wonderful climactic love scene. I believe that the music Siegfried and Brunnhilde share there is among the most ecstatic not just in the Ring, but the whole world.
That said, however, we do get a good deal of great music. Worth purchasing either if you're new to Wagner, and would like an easy way into the Ring Cycle, or an old hand who fancies the idea of a bite-sized 'Ring Symphony' which can be listened through at one's convenience.The recording does a pretty good job of what it says on the tin. But of course, there's nothing like the full fifteen hours of music drama - after all, if you haven't already heard the Rhinemaiden motif sung by Woglinde and the 'redemption through love' motif sung by Sieglinde, the finale loses half of its power straight away.
Other than that, I suppose I have the usual gripes about exclusion. My main issue is with the Siegfried excerpts. Firstly, there is proportionally much less of Siegfried than there is of the rest of the Cycle, and, most unhappily in my view, nothing from Act 3, where that drama's best music is concentrated (this is more than just 'my opinion' - Wagner began Act 3 with all the experience he had gained from writing Tristan and Die Meistersinger, after all). It would not have been difficult to extend the recording by ten more minutes, or drop the comparatively dull dragon stuff, to include the Act 3 prelude and, most important of all, some of the wonderful climactic love scene. I believe that the music Siegfried and Brunnhilde share there is among the most ecstatic not just in the Ring, but the whole world.
That said, however, we do get a good deal of great music. Worth purchasing either if you're new to Wagner, and would like an easy way into the Ring Cycle, or an old hand who fancies the idea of a bite-sized 'Ring Symphony' which can be listened through at one's convenience.The recording does a pretty good job of what it says on the tin. But of course, there's nothing like the full fifteen hours of music drama - after all, if you haven't already heard the Rhinemaiden motif sung by Woglinde and the 'redemption through love' motif sung by Sieglinde, the finale loses half of its power straight away.
9 people found this helpful
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Margaret Kenny
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2016
I don't know what the purists might think - but for a philistine like me this is one of the greatest pieces of recorded music I own. You do miss the vocal on Ride Of The Valkyries, but you'll just have to get that one elsewhere. A minor gripe. Fabulous, moving and wonderfully evocative of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
2 people found this helpful
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John McCann
4.0 out of 5 stars
Q
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2020
What are you doing tonight
Paul Lynam
4.0 out of 5 stars
Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2017
Good but transitions are sometimes abrupt. Why not leave a gap of a few seconds?
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