Remedios

About the Artist
First discographic step : Amor Belhom Duo. This is the story of a long lasting friendship between Naïm Amor (vocals, violins, guitars, sampler) and Thomas Belhom (drums, percussions, vocals, accordion), two French working in an inspiring and mystic landscape - Tucson -, both craving for carving their groove beyond any style or label (folk, jazz, blues, improvised music, post rock, bluegrass, country…); under the sign of lucky conjonctions – Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), the inspired drummer John Convertino (Calexico)… Four chapters, including a collaboration with Calexico, hundreds of concerts on both continents, have revealed to the public a remarkable, utterly surprising yet never disappointing duo.

Product Description
First solo album : Remedios. Far from the tormented rise of the past, some quietness exudes from the slowed down rhythms, sowing the scorches and cracks with preciosity. No double pedal to the drumkit but a remarkable work on the touch, the physical approach to the instrument and the resounding objects (Cadillac pieces, bells, tindrums, gongs, kid's toys…). The drums are not only used as a vector of melody or rhythm but express their own language. Once deeply rooted in American music, this globe-trotter has freed himself from his ancient territory of exile by fishing into miscellaneous cultures (latin, african, asiatic). In these twelve no man’s lands, Thomas never watches the almighty sun; he merely sounds the cracks of the ground. His music resembles a desert whose sand would slowly and steadily interfere with the innermost recesses of our neurons and settle for life. This second step doesn't make him an hermit since his own aim is to elevate his monotonous pieces to their highest level of perfection. Thomas is surrounded by outstanding musicians playing with congruous exigency. In order to administer this new antidote, Red and David Grubbs summon up their rich and diverse ideas as well as their pronounced taste for tightrope walking over subtle silence and delicate experimentation. On board of their spacious and poetic stagecoach are seated Viva Yazon (his companion, guitar, composition on Eugène), Gilles Constantini (languorous violin on Eugène and Whales), Pierre Favard (keyboards). This strolling band takes time to pace through the shortcuts, to seize the fineness of these dry but generous, raw and spiritual songs. Sweat and intellect slowly merge together as their transhumance goes along.

Remedios,Thomas Belhom,Ici D'ailleurs,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Just OK The Countess

Countess Maritza Manufacturer: Jay Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Kálmán: Die Csárdásfürstin ASIN: B000005BH8 Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

1. Overture
2. Luck Is A Golden Dream
3. How Do You Do?
4. Vienna Mine
5. Set The Gipsy Music Playing
6. Childhood Memories
7. Let's Go To Varasdin
8. Play Gipsy-Final (Act 1)
9. When I Start Dreaming
10. Corks Are Popping
11. Be Mine, My Love, Be Mine
12. Finale (Act 2)
13. Nut Brown Maiden From The Prairie
14. Finale (Act 3) Waltz Our Worries Away

Customer Reviews:

Just OK.......2002-02-14

This is not a bad recording but it has some serious problems. Although it's sung in English, some of the diction is so mushy (particularly the lead tenor's) that it's hard to tell what the language is. The vocal performances overall are missing the Viennese/Hungarian style. There's a bit too much of the English music hall stylistically, particularly in the comic numbers. Still, Kalman's music is glorious and deserves to be better-known than it is.

The Countess.......2001-05-13

I love this opperetta! I was first introduced to it when I was cast as a village child, actually Juliska and the music just waltz's my worries away!

Average customer rating:

Tippett: The Midsummer Marriage Manufacturer: Lyrita ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Tippett | Tippett, Michael | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B000025ZJT Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

1. This Way! This Way!
2. What's That? Surely Music?
3. (Leading To:)
4. Stop! Stop! Stop!
5. O, Mark, Who Are They/Jenifer, Jenifer My Darling
6. What Steps Are Those?/Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho...
7. What Sort Of Place Is This D'you Think?
8. So You, So You Are Marke's Fine Brood Of Friends
9. So You, So You, So You're The Company My Daughter Keeps!
10. Here I Am, Sir, What CAn I Do?/Jenifer! Jenifer! My Daughter Jenifer!
11. Returning To The Earth Is Cruel
12. Come Now With Me And Drop This Childish Masquerade
13. Is It So Strange...
14. You, You Who Were With Me When She Left Me
15. See By A Heavenly Magic In This Glass
16. Call-Crying As They're Flying.../Jack, Don't Let's Go With All The Others
17. What Day Is It?
18. I'll Lay The Baby To My Breast/(Strephon Enters From Behind The Temple)
19. (Some Of The Trees Appear To Move)

Tracks:

1. 1st Dance: The Earth In Autumn
2. 2nd Dance: The Waters In Winter
3. 3rd Dance: The Air In Spring
4. (Leading To:)/Ah! They'll Kill Him!
5. (Neat And Ready To Rejoin) King Fisher/Sun Shines On A Midsummer Day
6. Evening And Night/Ohay! Ohay!
7. No! King Fisher Summons You.../Keep The Holster Close By You
8. Now, Bella, Call The Ancients
9. Do You Accept My Challenge?/See, Where We Carry On Our Mighty Shoulder
10. I Needn't Tell Madame Sosostris
11. Who Hopes To Conjure With The World Of Dreams
12. I Alone Cannot Consult Myself
13. You Who Consult Me
14. I See A Meadow
15. She Saw What Happens In The Soul
16. Pride Is Virtue In A Man Of Power
17. (For A Moment The Stage Is Quite Still)/King Fisher's Dead
18. (After The She Ancient Returns Up Stage)/4th Dance: Fire In Summer
19. Was It A Vision?
20. O Summer Sun
21. (The Moonlight Has Faded Out)

Album Description

"A masterpiece, in short, and one that can be listened to again and again without exhausting its exuberant generosity." -- Gramophone

Long patronized by the music establishment as an amateur because of his late start in music study, Michael Tippett (1905-1998) was to become in later years one of the most influential and respected British composers.

Average customer rating: Six star performance of one of my favorite works. One of Stravinksy's great masterpieces. A performance of surpassing drama, one of a kind!

Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Stravinsky: Three Greek Ballets (Apollo, Agon, Orpheus) Stravinsky - Pulcinella · Octet · Renard · Ragtime / Kenny · Aler · N. Robson · Tomlinson · Wilson-Johnson · London Sinfonietta · Salonen Stravinsky: Oedipus Rex; Les Noces Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale, Dumbarton Oaks Concerto / Ward, Keeble, Soames, et al Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms ASIN: B00009KHY9 Release Date: 2003-09-02

Tracks:

1. The Version Of Oedipus Rex Which You Are About To Hear
2. Caedit Nos Pestis, Theba Peste Moritur
3. Liberi, Vos Liberabo
4. Here Is Creon... Respondit Deus
5. No Repeias Vetus Scelus
6. Oedipus Questions The Fountain Of Truth... Delie, Exspectamus
7. Dicere Non Possum, Dicere Non Licet
8. Invidia Fortunam Odit
9. Gloria, Gloria, Gloria!
10. The Quarrel Between The Princes Brings Jocasta On The The Scene
11. Nonne Erubescite, Reges
12. Ego Senem Cecedi
13. A Shepherd, The Witness To The Crime, Appears... Adest Omniscius Pastor
14. Oportebat Tacere, Nunquam Loqui
15. Nonne Monstrum Rescituri
16. In Monte Reppertus Est
17. And Now You Will Hear The Messenger
18. Divum Jocastae Caput Mortuum!

Customer Reviews:

Six star performance of one of my favorite works. One of Stravinksy's great masterpieces........2005-12-24

This is my favorite recording of this work for many reasons. First of all, the soloists all have a bright and strong timbre to their voices that I think represents the music wonderfully well. For example, when Tiresias finally reveals that the murderer of the king is a king, the D above middle C he holds into Oedipus' entrance on the same note should blend into one voice for the point of the statement to hold (because Oedipus is the murderer - unwittingly, but still the man who killed his father). Here the voice of the fine Australian tenor Ronald Dowd and the rich bass of Harold Blackburn find that magical unity to identify Oedipus as the guilty party.

This recording was made after an historic performance of this work by the young conductor Colin Davis at Sadler Wells (I don't know if he was Sir Colin then, but he is now!). It was done with the kind of stone like masks that Stravinsky called for, but the music is performed with passion and fire. Some liken it to Verdi and feel that this recording has almost too much character for what Stravinsky had in mind. I don't care.

Look, we have Sir Ralph Richardson as the narrator and his version of the narration is the best, by a long shot, of any that I have heard. It has the kind of formal wear dignity one needs for this work without ever being stuffy. As a consummate actor, he imbues the narration with life rather than as an almost embarrassing throwaway. As I said, every one of the soloists is superb. I must mention Patricia Johnson as one of the very best singers of the Jocasta role. Again, she has a bright voice, but has wonderful hues in her lower register (where much of this role is sung) without losing power. And Raimund Herincx is terrific as the monumental Creon.

Davis leads this band of singers, chorus, and orchestra so well that it is always sad when this work ends (not just because the ending is sad, but because you want more music). From the opening fury of the chorus pleading to be saved from the plague to their sad farewell to the blinded and banished Oedipus, this is a performance for all time.

The only disappointment in this release of the work is that the text in Latin and English translation is not provided. Remember, this is a Greek tragedy that was written in French by Cocteau and then translated into Latin by Jean Daniélou. Stravinsky said he wanted it in a language that was monumental and above corruption. And given the way Stravinsky uses the words of the text, in a way it isn't necessary to know the words. However, I like to know them to notice what Stravinsky did with them. And it would only have been a few cents more. When this was released on disk, the notes were on the back cover of the album and the text was provided on the sleeve containing the record. In any case, you have Richardson's magnificent narration for each scene, and the Latin isn't particularly difficult.

Fabulous and emphatically recommended!

A performance of surpassing drama, one of a kind!.......2005-09-04

Although it's a neo-classical work, and therefore often preformed as if more ritual than drama, sometimes Oedipus Rex gets a really fiery reading. This is one, a recording made after performances staged at Sadler's Wells in 1963. In general, the roster of singers is mostly forgotten now, but all are good and the Oedipus of Roland Dowd is superb. If you ever felt that Stravinsky created a flat, featureless puppet in Oedipus, Dowd will convince you that this is a role as full as Manrico in "Trovatore." Highly recommended

Average customer rating: phenominal if you can stand the slow tempo and English

Wagner Twilight Of The Gods Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000000AA5 Release Date: 1994-07-26

Tracks:

1. Introduction-You Drove The Game Away From Us
2. Mime Was A Hideous Dwarf
3. Brunnhilde! Holiest Bride!
4. Interlude-Siegfried's Funeral Procession
5. Was That His Horn?
6. Ah! If Siegfried Were Back!
7. Peace With Your Cries Of Useless Lament!
8. Sturdy Branches, Building His Pyre
9. The Sun In Radiance Shines From His Eyes
10. My Heritage I Claim From The Hero
11. Fly Home You Ravens!
12. Grane, My Horse!

Customer Reviews:

phenominal if you can stand the slow tempo and English.......2000-04-07

Opinion is very sharply divided on Reginald Goodall's Wagner conducting, people either find it revelatory or insufferable. I personally found it very difficult to listen with sustained attention to his complete Ring, but it was worth the effort. This issue presents only the last two scenes of Act III of Twilight of the Gods, but still takes a full hour under Goodall's direction. It is a studio performance and has fewer lapses in intonation than his live recording of the complete opera. The singing is excellent; Rita Hunter has a classic Brunnhilde voice and the rest of the cast is very strong too, although they require prodigious breath control to match Goodall's tempo. The orchestral playing is beautiful and many details in the woodwind, which often get buried elsewhere, are clearly heard. The finale, although again very slow, has crushing power. I first heard this recording on the Unicorn-Kanchana label, both on record and on cassette, and thought it had some of the best sound engineering ever for this music, it really is quite enthralling. For those who object to the translation of the original text into English, I would say that Wagner himself authorized the Ring to be performed on tour after the 1876 Bayreuth Festival (by Angelo Neimann as I recall) and the translation was approved if it meant the difference between getting his music performed or not. Andrew Porter's translation comes as close to the German text as possible in rhythm and word meaning; it does lack some poetic subtleties. The singers enunciate the English text well and for a change it is nice to hear and understand everything that is sung without a libretto. The documentation is very good too. Overall, this is a fine release, although it may not appeal to everyone.

Average customer rating:

Remedios Gabriella Ferri Manufacturer: Sony Bmg/RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: I Grandi Successi Originali ASIN: B0006OSDXQ Release Date: 2004-05-06

Tracks:

1. Semo In Centoventitre
2. Nina, Si Voi Dormite
3. Canto De' Malavita
4. E Dormi Pupo Dorce
5. Fiori Tresteverini- La Paloma
6. Grazie Alla Vita
7. Cielito Lindo
8. Remedios
9. Malaguena
10. Cucaracha

Average customer rating: "The death-doomed alone are destined to look on me." Breathtaking, powerful, accessible, not just an alternative Absolutely Breathtaking! A powerful reading of the most moving opera in the Ring. The power of Wagner's music drama is now fully accessible

Wagner: The Valkyrie Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wagner: The Rhinegold Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) Mozart - Don Giovanni / Garry Magee · Cullagh · Banks · Plazas · Shore · Tierny · PO · David Parry ASIN: B00004YU6Z Release Date: 2000-11-28

Tracks:

1. Act I: Prld - English Nat Opr Orch/Reginald Goodall
2. Act I, Scene 1: The Storm Drove Me Here - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
3. Act I, Scene 1: This House And This Wife - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
4. Act I, Scene 1: Evil Fortune's Never Far From Me - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
5. Act I, Scene 2: There He Lay, Feeble And Faint - Margaret Curphey/Clifford Grant/Alberto Remedios
6. Act I, Scene 2: Through Field And Forest - Alberto Remedios/Clifford Grant/Margaret Curphey
7. Act I, Scene 2: Friedmund No One Could Call Me - Alberto Remedios/Clifford Grant/Margaret Curphey
8. Act I, Scene 2: The Neidings Raided Again - Alberto Remedios
9. Act I, Scene 2: So The Norn Who Dealt You This Fate - Clifford Grant/Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
10. Act I, Scene 2: I Know A Troublesome Race - Clifford Grant
11. Act I, Scene 3: A Sword Was Pledged By My Father - Alberto Remedios
12. Act I, Scene 3: Are You Awake? - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
13. Act I, Scene 3: My Husband's Kinsmen - Margaret Curphey
14. Act I, Scene 3: Yes, Loveliest Bride - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
15. Act I, Scene 3: Winter Storms Have Vanished (Siegmund's Spring Song) - Alberto Remedios
16. Act I, Scene 3: You Are The Spring - Margaret Curphey
17. Act I, Scene 3: Oh Sweetest Enchantment - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
18. Act I, Scene 3: The Stream Has Shown My Reflected Face - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
19. Act I, Scene 3: Siegmund Call Me, And Siegmund Am I! - Alberto Remedios
20. Act I, Scene 3: Siegmund, The Walsung, Here You See! - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey

Tracks:

1. Act II, Scene 1: Go Bridle Your Horse, Warrior Maid! - Norman Bailey
2. Act II, Scene 1: Hoyotoho! Hoyotoho! (Brunnhilde's Battle Cry) - Rita Hunter
3. Act II, Scene 1: The Usual Storm, The Usual Strife - Norman Bailey/Ann Howard
4. Act II, Scene 1: Pretend That You Don't Understand! - Ann Howard/Norman Bailey
5. Act II, Scene 1: Now It's Come To Pass! - Norman Bailey
6. Act II, Scene 1: So This Is The End Of The Gods And Their Glory - Ann Howard
7. Act II, Scene 1: You Never Learn What I Would Teach You - Norman Bailey/Ann Howard
8. Act II, Scene 1: What Must I Do? - Norman Bailey/Ann Howard
9. Act II, Scene 1: Hiaha! Hiaha! Hoyotoho! - Rita Hunter/Ann Howard/Norman Bailey
10. Act II, Scene 2: Fricka Has Won The Fight - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
11. Act II, Scene 2: When Youth's Delightful Pleasures Had Waned - Norman Bailey
12. Act II, Scene 2: She Refused To Reveal More About It - Norman Bailey/Rita Hunter
13. Act II, Scene 2: There's More To Tell - Norman Bailey
14. Act II, Scene 2: Yet One Can Accomplish What I May Not - Norman Bailey
15. Act II, Scene 2: But The Walsung, Siegmund - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
16. Act II, Scene 2: Then Siegmund Must Fall In His Fight? - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
17. Act II, Scene 2: I Give You My Blessing, Nibelung Son! - Norman Bailey/Rita Hunter
18. Act II, Scene 2: No, Have Mercy - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey

Tracks:

1. Act II, Scene 2: So I Obey His Command - Rita Hunter
2. Act II, Scene 3: Rest Here For A While; Stay By My Side! - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
3. Act II, Scene 3: Away! Away! - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
4. Act II, Scene 3: Where Are You, Siegmund? - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
5. Act II, Scene 4: Siegmund! Look At Me! (Announcement Of Death) - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
6. Act II, Scene 4: And If I Come - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
7. Act II, Scene 4: Then Greet For Me Walhall - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
8. Act II, Scene 4: Woe! Woe! Sister And Bride - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
9. Act II, Scene 4: Two Lives Now Lie In Your Power - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
10. Act II, Scene 5: Charms Of Sleep Are Sent To Still - Alberto Remedios
11. Act II, Scene 5: I Hear Your Call - Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
12. Act II, Scene 5: Wehwalt! Wehwalt! - Clifford Grant/Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey/Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey

Tracks:

1. Act III, Scene 1: Hoyotoho! Hoyotoho! (Ride Of The Valkyries) - Katie Clark/Anne Evans/Elizabeth Connell/Helen Attfield/Shelagh Squires/Anne Conoley
2. Act III, Scene 1: Shield Me And Help - Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen Attfield/Anne Evans/Sarah Walker...
3. Act III, Scene 1: Hear While I Tell You - Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen Attfield/Anne Evans/Sarah Walker...
4. Act III, Scene 1: Pray Suffer No Sorrow For Me - Margaret Curphey/Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen Attfield/Anne...
5. Act III, Scene 1: Fly Him Swiftly, Away To The East! - Rita Hunter
6. Act III, Scene 1: O Radiant Wonder! (Parting Salute) - Margaret Curphey
7. Act III, Scene 1: Stay, Brunnhild! - Norman Bailey/Margaret Curphey/Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen...
8. Act III, Scene 2: Where Is Brunnhild? - Norman Bailey/Margaret Curphey/Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen...
9. Act III, Scene 2: Weak-Spirited, Womanish Brood! - Norman Bailey
10. Act III, Scene 2: Here I Am, Father - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
11. Act III, Scene 2: No More Will You Ride From Walhall - Norman Bailey/Margaret Curphey/Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen...
12. Act III, Scene 2: Did You Not Hear What I Decreed? - Norman Bailey/Margaret Curphey/Rita Hunter/Katie Clarke/Anne Conoley/Elizabeth Connell/Helen...
13. Act III, Scene 3: Was It So Shameful - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
14. Act III, Scene 3: I Know So Little - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
15. Act III, Scene 3: You, Who This Love Into My Heart Revealed - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
16. Act III, Scene 3: You Indulged Your Love - Norman Bailey
17. Act III, Scene 3: Unworthy Of You This Foolish Maid - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
18. Act III, Scene 3: You Fathered A Glorious Race - Rita Hunter/Norman Bailey
19. Act III, Scene 3: In Long, Deep Sleep - Norman Bailey/Rita Hunter
20. Act III, Scene 3: Farewell, My Valiant, Glorious Child! (Wotan's Farewell) - Norman Bailey
21. Act III, Scene 3: These Eyes So Warm And So Bright - Norman Bailey
22. Act III, Scene 3: Loge, Hear! Come At My Call! - Norman Bailey
23. Act III, Scene 3: Magic Fire Music - Norman Bailey

Customer Reviews:

"The death-doomed alone are destined to look on me.".......2007-06-12

Okay, so we have the Solti, Bohm, Karajan, Levine, Janowski, Goodall, and Sawallisch Rings on the market (I haven't listened to the other Ring recordings yet, sorry to say). And all of these leave me to one conclusion: the many differences lead me to believe that all of these ring sets have their own authenticities and setbacks. And here they are:

TIMING (Estimate):
Solti's Ring: 14 hours, 30 minutes
Bohm's Ring: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Karajan's Ring: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Goodall's Ring: 16 hours, 50 minutes
Janowski's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
Levine's Ring: 15 hours, 20 minutes
Sawallisch's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes

CONDUCTING:
Solti: Solti's conducting is driven with sheer muscle, but sometimes he makes the Ring overemotional. His Walkure & Gotterdammerung Preludes are clear examples: they're annoyingly bombastic. Nonetheless he almost seldom loses control with anything. His clear focus on the drama is astonishing.

Bohm: I must say his live Bayreuth recording brings out some of the best. He puts more faith in the orchestral score, but he also gives it more intensity. His tempi are some of the quickest, but they still don't seem rushed at all (except maybe "Wohin schleich'st du eilig und schlau"). I especially like his "Forging Scene" & "Hagen Summons the Vassals"; both are the most energetic on disc.

Karajan: Karajan's chamber approach is very interesting. Instead of going for the drama or the energy, the conductor goes for the beauty. Almost everything in his Ring sounds very ethereal because of his excessive use of lyricism. His orchestral preludes (except Walkure Act 1) sound more beautiful than others, and much of the soft parts (such as Siegfried Act Three Scene Three) are controlled nicely. His "Funeral March" and "Immolation" are recommendable. Siegfried Act Three Scene Two could have improved with more tension.

Goodall: Oh, boy. While I do praise Goodall with his amazing attention to detail, his ridiculously sluggish tempi will tick some Wagnerites off: everything is slower than adagio moderato. But I did enjoy listening to the slow beauty of his "Wotan's Farewell/Magic Fire Music". This was recorded live and sung in English.

Janowski: This is a very classical Ring. Instead of bombast, spacious, or lyrical passion, maestro Janowski gives us the straightforward approach. He goes straight for Wagner's original intentions (precise tempi, dynamics, flow of leitmotivs, etc.), which makes this another exquisite Ring. "Hagen Summons the Vassals" is probably the fastest I've ever heard (along with Sawallisch's). Rheingold Scene Four can be best described as "sensational".

Levine: While he does stay true to the score like Bohm, this conductor makes for a somewhat dull Ring. His handling of the orchestra is nice, but the moderately slow tempi he chooses is flawed. It should be more animated. His beautiful "Funeral March" and "Erda's Warning" are two of the few flawless features.

Sawallisch: I guess you can say that Sawallisch is half-Karajan, half-Janowski. While he does stay true to the orchestral score like Janowski, he also puts in a little Karajan-like lyricism. At some points he loses track with orchestra and singers (as does every live recording) but Bohm has more control. This was also recorded live.

ORCHESTRA:
Solti's Vienna Philharmonic: The woodwinds are the most beautiful in Solti's Ring (the "Forest Murmurs" is clear evidence of that). French horns and Wagner tubas make this a recommended listening. The strings in "Heda Heda Hedo" could've added a bit more work, but they are strikingly spectacular everywhere else. The orchestra gives it their all in Siegfried Act Two & Three, but they are at their weakest in Walkure Act One & Three (Bohm's Bayreuth does it better). Overall, it's the loudest and certainly most bombastic out of all the Ring orchestras combined.

Bohm's Bayreuth Festival: The ultimate Wagnerian orchestra gives it their all. The brass both high and low are the most powerful, while the woodwinds are the most delicate. The strings are muffled only a few times, otherwise the eighteen anvils are perfectly loud and clear. Erda's scenes aren't as effective as Janowski's, but the entire Walkure is more successful than Janowski's when it comes to tone & technique. Overall, this orchestra is the most dramatic.

Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic: The entire orchestra sounds polished, not to say that it is bad. Indeed the drama is still there, but much of the suspense is lacking (the scenes with Fasolt and Fafner come to mind). The brass sometimes overpowers the strings, which can be a serious problem. Gotterdammerung "Three Norns" Scene sounds very mysterious, very eerie.

Goodall's English National Opera: This orchestra sounds nice, even if the sluggishness can bring them down at times. The Flight of the Valkyries doesn't sound too good in a slow tempo, but the entire orchestra does sound lucid here. Siegfried Act One Prelude is the creepiest. All of the leitmotivs are heard loud and clear, just like in Janowski's version.

Janowski's Staatskapelle Dresden: This orchestra has the same force & flair as does Bohm's Bayreuth Festival, only Dresden sounds much clearer due to the fantastic digital sound. Even minor details are found in this Ring. I can hear harps in Flight of the Valkyries! The strings imitate the Siegfried forest very well, while the woodwinds representing the songbird are wonderful (but not as wonderful as Solti's songbird). Dresden's "Magic Fire Music" (along with Berlin's) is the most extravagant.

Levine's Metropolitan Opera: The brass and woodwinds are the true stars. The strings sound too tired to continue on in Siegfried & Gotterdammerung. The Finale to Rheingold is absolutely stunning (the trumpets and trombones will not disappoint), and the Second Act of Walkure is the most impressive, the most refined.

Sawallisch's Bavarian State: Wrong notes in this live recording won't matter, as the entire orchestra gets everything going in all four nights at the opera. The strings never surrender to imperfection, and the winds are marvelously aligned. I just wish that some of the singers would keep up with the orchestra.

SINGERS:
-Wotan
Solti: Hans Hotter is the superior Wotan. He sounds powerful throughout the Ring (except Rheingold, in which a less stellar George London performs).

Bohm and Janowski: Theo Adam in Bohm's live recording is another treat. While he is not as equally impressive as Hotter, he can certainly conjure up everlasting emotions. Adam sounds weaker in Janowski's studio recording, but he still doesn't disappoint.

Karajan: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau plays Wotan in "Rheingold," while Thomas Stewart replaces Fischer-Dieskau in "Walkure" and "Siegfried". I don't think Fischer-Dieskau was a good choice; he sounds too humane and too light. Stewart makes an astounding improvement in both "Walkure" and "Siegfried".

Goodall: Norman Bailey has that divine spark that Hotter used to cherish. He's heavy and unblemished, and he handles the English text with flair and sheen.

Levine: James Morris is a notch below Hotter, Adam, and Bailey, but he overpowers Fischer-Dieskau pretty much throughout the Levine's Ring.

Sawallisch: I may be biased, but Robert Hale just didn't do it for me. He sounded dull and tedious, and his Wotan's Farewell wasn't enough to sadden me.

-Brunnhilde
Solti and Bohm: Birgit Nilsson is the best Brunnhilde on the market. Her Valkyrie cry is delightful, and her final scene in Gotterdammerung is brilliant beyond belief.

Karajan: Regine Crespin is without a doubt one of the finest Brunnhildes after Nilsson. She's fantastic in Walkure Act Three. I just wish she stayed on as the Valkyrie later on in the Ring (Helga Dernesch is no good in Gotterdammerung, sorry to say).

Goodall: Rita Hunter is at her strongest in Walkure and Siegfried. She is at her weakest in Gotterdammerung. What may have caused her downfall in the fourth installment? "The world may never know."

Janowski: Jeannine Altmeyer is basically the most controversial Brunnhilde on CD. Some people say that she's too light and weak, while others say she sounds young and very enchanting. I'm with those who think Altmeyer was a good choice, but you yourself (the shopper) are going to have to decide whether she's good or not.

Levine and Sawallisch: Hildegard Behrens is just like Nilsson and Crespin: while she's not the best, she is definitely another perfect Brunnhilde of choice. She's at her most dazzling when she performs Walkure (Levine) and Siegfried (Sawallisch).

-Siegmund & Sieglinde
Let's see. For the Siegmunds, we have James King for Solti and Bohm. Jon Vickers for Karajan, Alberto Remedios for Goodall, Siegfried Jerusalem for Janowski, Gary Lakes for Levine, and Robert Schunk for Sawallisch. For the Sieglindes, we have Regine Crespin for Solti, Leonie Rysanek for Bohm, Gundula Janowitz for Karajan, Margaret Curphy for Goodall, Jessye Norman for both Janowski and Levine, and Julia Varady for Sawallisch. Hmm . . . Jerusalem is good . . . and so is Vickers . . . Janowitz is charming, and so is . . . Oh, what the heck? All the singers for Siegmund and Sieglinde are fantastic. Two exceptions, though: Robert Schunk doesn't sound heroic enough, and Jessye Norman for Levine's Ring doesn't sound young and innocent enough.

-Siegfried
Solti and Bohm: Wolfgang Windgassen may very well be the best Siegfried for the ages. His `Forging Scene" in both renditions are defiantly inspiring. His last scene in Gotterdammerung is celestial and overwhelming.

Karajan: Jess Thomas (Siegfried) and Helge Brilioth (Gotterdammerung) may not be as ideal as Windgassen, but they do know how to be a magnificent heldentenor. Thomas pulls it off with Act One and Three.

Goodall: Wow! What a singer that Alberto Remedios! He never drags in either of the last two installments, and he uses the correct emotions in every scene that he is in.

Janowski and Sawallisch: Rene Kollo's Siegfried is a poetically expressive one. In Janowski's version he sounds playful when he's in Mime's home, and he sounds willed when he's in the Gibich Hall. He is not good enough in Sawallisch's version, however. His tiresome "Forging Scene" is obvious evidence of that.

Levine: Oh, Reiner Goldberg. At least you tried. Seriously, he sounds too tedious (especially in Gotterdammerung Act Three Scene Two) and too old. I don't know Levine should've chose Kollo when he recorded his Ring.

-Alberich
Solti and Bohm: Gustav Niedlinger has a heaviness that overwhelms a few other baritones. When he sings his only sequence in Gotterdammerung Act Two Scene One, his emotion is so pure that his son Hagen would've drowned himself in tears (Too melodramatic? Sorry about that.). The only problem is that his character sounds too one-dimensional. Alberich isn't just some cardboard-cutout bad guy. He has a very good reason why he wants to take revenge on the world. Overall, Niedlinger is amazing throughout Wagner's Ring (He deserves many awards for "Bin ich nun frei?").

Karajan: I guess you can say that Zoltan Kelemen tries his best throughout. He is not good in Rheingold, but he gets better in Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.

Goodall: Derek Hammond-Stroud is three-dimensional, but not that much. Still, he can sound very demanding in Rheingold Scene One and Siegfried Act Two Scene One.

Janowski: Siegmund Nimsgern may be the most humane Alberich yet, but it's all good. He sings with more passion than Kelemen and more robustness than Hammond-Stroud. Niedlinger's ferociousness puts him below, however. "Schaf'st du, Hagen, mein sohn?" is noteworthy.

Levine and Sawallisch: Ekkehard Wlaschiha is one hell of a vigorous Alberich. I praise him in Rheingold Scene One and Three. His performance in Siegfried (both versions) could've improved with more distrustfulness towards Mime and the Wanderer.

-Mime
Solti and Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is the creepiest Mime ever known to humankind. This dwarf outsings other Mimes on the market. When he sings "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" his anger and fear is the most effective to almost all Ring listeners.

Bohm: Erwin Wohlfahrt wins second place. He gives a first-rate performance in Siegfried Act One, but loses some of his edge in Act Two. He is an exceptional Mime nonetheless. Look for him in Karajan's Rheingold, also.

Goodall: Gregory Dempsey isn't emotional enough. He doesn't sound fearful or depressed at all, which makes him the dullest Mime for the Ring.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is for Siegfried, while Christian Vogel is for Rheingold. Vogel is less than perfect, while Schreier is way beyond outstanding. Schreier is less ghoulish and more benevolent, more three-dimensional than Stolze and Wohlfahrt. The only flaw I can find is his handling of "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" He could've added a bit more fear in that sequence.

Levine: Heinz Zednik is yet another excellent mime. He is equal to Schreier when it comes to humaneness and lyricism. His performance in Rheingold Scene Three is pure gold, while his performance in Siegfried (particularly "Willkommen, Siegfried!") is a stunning achievement.

Sawallisch: Helmut Pampuch is just like Schreier and Zednik: he's very VERY good. Nuff said.

-Loge
Solti: Set Svanholm may be the weakest Loge. He is not very ominous throughout all of his scenes, and his lack of a sinister atmosphere is greatly affects the entire Rheingold. But he'll soon be forgotten later on in the Ring.

Bohm: Why the heck would the conductor have Wolfgang Windgassen play both Siegfried AND Loge? The demi-god needs to sound different from a son of a Walsung. Still, it's satisfactory, and his "Ihrem ende eilen sie zu" gives great foreshadowing.

Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is easily the most entertaining Loge to listen to. His scenes in Scene Three are delightful.

Goodall: Emile Belcourt isn't as good as Stolze, but he certainly can make some of the best of an English-speaking Loge.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is the most eccentric out of all of them, and that's a fact. Much of his singing involves imagination, peril, vengeance, and deviousness. Belcourt depends only on imagination and deviousness, Stolze only vengeance and deviousness, and Windgassen only peril. His odd conversations with Alberich and the gods/goddesses are classic.

Levine: Siegfried Jerusalem doesn't seem like a good choice for Loge. He's better off playing Siegmund or Siegfried, but not a demi-god.

Sawallisch: Robert Tear is on par with Stolze and Schreier. Sometimes he takes things too low, but all is forgiven with his management of character development.

-Everyone Else
Uh-huh, what can I say? Everyone else does a good job in all Ring recordings (maybe not in Swarowsky's version). Matti Salminen is the perfect Hagen (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch), while Kirsten Flagstad is the most brilliant Fricka (Solti). The Norns and Rheinmaidens do a splendid job in Solti, Janowski, and Levine. The Vassals (male choir) are at their unsurpassed in Bohm and Goodall. The only flawed Erda is Anne Collins (Goodall), maybe too light and too heavy at times. All in all, no one here is graded C or lower.

CONCLUSION: I have yet to listen to Barenboim's Bayreuth presentation and the essential mono recordings (Furtwangler, Krauss), but I'm pretty sure that have their advantages and disadvantages. So there you have it. We have the histrionic Solti, the energetic Bohm, the otherworldly Karajan, the spacious Goodall, the calculated Janowski, the relaxed Levine, and the serious Sawallisch Rings. They have their own authenticities and setbacks, and they certainly have their own significances for Ring listeners everywhere.


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

Karl Bohm: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Herbert von Karajan: Der Ring des Nibelungen / Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic

Goodall: Wagner: The Ring Cycle (Box Set)
-The Rhinegold (Part 1): Wagner: The Rhinegold
-Siegfried (Part 3): Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)
-Twilight of the Gods (Part 4): The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)

Marek Janowski: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

James Levine: Der Ring Des Nibelungen

Wolfgang Sawllisch: Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sawallisch, Bayerischer Staatsoper

Breathtaking, powerful, accessible, not just an alternative.......2005-05-03

This is one of three Walkure's in my collection: the very underrated Leinsdorf, the thrilling Boehm and this one with Goodall. I believe Goodall is right up there with the best of them. Remedios, Hunter and Bailey sing beautifully and with sufficient drama. I'll go out on a musical limb and say I believe Bailey is one of the finest Wotan's on disc. Many will disagree but I think he has the measure of the role, the power to pull it off and a burnished timber that never becomes coarse under powerful climaxes... Remedios may well be the star of the trilogy along with Hunter and Bailey. His Siegmund is beautifully sung and his Siegfried by the way, is no mean stint either. Would that we had tenors that could sing Siegfried without sounding stretched beyond their limits. I am continually puzzled by the bad reviews that the orchestra playing receives from ARG, Classics Today and a few others. The ENO is not a Concertgebouw or Vienna Philharmonic but I think they play beautifully, a few clinkers notwithstanding. For a live show, they do a pretty d..... good job. THe sound from both orchestra and singers is exceptionally fine. This set belong in your collection if you like Wagner and, Die Walkure, in particular. If I had been at the performance in the 1970's I would have come home very happy, satisfied and richer for the experience.

Absolutely Breathtaking!.......2002-09-13

I had long cringed at the thought of this magnificant masterpiece recorded in English. Even after reading several rave reviews on this cylce that I've read by authoritive Wagnerites and critics, I was still skeptical. Finally, I decided to add Goodall's 'Ring' as my third complete cycle (after Solti & Bohm) for one reason: because it was in English and I felt it would enhance my understand of 'The Ring.' In fact, after achieving that "higher understanding" I was planning on selling this set on Ebay. That was, of course, before I heard this magnificant recording.

During the course of my research on 'The Goodall Ring' most of the praised seemed to heighten around 'Siegfried,' which is my absolute favorite of the cycle. That also helped to seal the deal. As the critics said, 'Siegfried' under Goodall is excellent, but not as monumental as Solti's reading, which IMHO is the greatest recording of 'Siegfried.'

The set that stands out, to me, in 'The Goodall Ring' is this recording; The Valkyrie. It is absolutely breathtaking. Not only is it my favorite of this set, it is my favorite Valkyrie recording period (I am very familiar with Boehm's, Solti's, Karajan's, Furthwanglers, Levines, and others). Alberto Remedios (Siegmund here and Siegfried in the last two operas) is truly magnificant. It is the best Siegmund I have heard on disc (and his Siegfried rivals Windgassen). Coupled with Margaret Curphey (Sieglinde), you get the most beautiful and moving duo I have heard on record. The duet in Act I is simply glorious. You also get the bonus of Norman Bailey's triumphant Wotan (and Wanderer too). He has such command and prescene. He sounds like a God. Throw in Rita Hunter, who holds her own as Brunnhilde, Goodall's miraculous conducting, and excellent playing by the orchestra and it all adds up to a stunning recording.

I can only say that in a way it's a shame this set is in English. Were it not, I believe Goodall's 'Ring' would be one of the most talked about, popular, and sought after complete recordings of the cycle. I can only say that I am so happy that I finally opened up to opera recorded in a different language than written.

I have fallen completely in love with Goodall's entire cycle. And, I have fallen in love with 'The Ring' all over again.

A powerful reading of the most moving opera in the Ring........2001-08-30

This performance of *Die Valkure,* the second and most popular opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle, is musically splendid. Its special significance, however, is that it is sung in English. An English performance of the Ring is perhaps more important than that of any other opera(s), because Wagner's libretti are suffused with his ideas about society, fate, justice, and love. Even if (at times) you need to read along to understand what the singers are saying, *hearing* the lyrics in English is truly stirring in a way that performances in your non-native language cannot match.
A particular stand-out on this recording is the Wotan. His timbre, diction, and delivery perfectly embody the troubled god who tries desperately, and in vain, to keep the world under his control. His angst and wrath are utterly convincing.

The power of Wagner's music drama is now fully accessible.......2001-01-30

I have never been a fan of opera in translation, but I must say that Andrew Porter's rendering of The Ring in English is amazing. He uses modern, not archaic, English, and the word choice is so very earthy and Germanic that the noble yet somewhat severe atmosphere of the Teutonic myths is conveyed perfectly. The sound, in other words, is an elegantly Germanic, and totally appropriate for the music and the Story it tells. It is not true that you can't understand the English anyway, because you can understand if you care to pay any attention at all. The translation is lucid, and so it the marvelous singing that conveys it.

Goodall's sense of music drama is lush, and takes some getting used to after the crash-and-burn Solti set, but after a time or two it seems just right. Goodall is not always slower than the rest, either; for example, the famous Ride of the Valkyries that begins Act III is quicker than Solti's surprisingly slow and heavy account. It is the most exciting that I have heard--and I have heard quite a few--but it is not so fast that the power is lost in favor of urgency.

This is not an urgent Die Walkure, and it is all the better for it. Goodall takes the time to actually tell the story, and is sensitive to the drama's needs over what could be called convention. For example, Wotan's Farewell doesn't thunder out after Brunnhilde's final declamation, like in so many recordings; rather, Goodall's interpretation is more dreamy, mysterious, and appropriately trance-like, in keeping with the action on stage.

I own the complete Solti Ring, but I must say I will be the first in line to get each new installment of this remarakable Ring as soon they hit the shelves. If you are new to Wagner, and are willing to make the plunge into a complete Ring, then start with this one and see if you want to continue. This recording is definitely one of the great Rings, and the superb translation will open up the work in ways that following the libretto just won't. I promise that you won't be able to put this one away easily. Get it!

Average customer rating: Goodall's Siegfried "Do you know what Wotan wills?" Slow and steady wins the race Absolutely better than you think, the best of Goodal's Ring! Better than you might think....

Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) English National Opera Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) Wagner: The Rhinegold Wagner: The Valkyrie Wagner: Siegfried Wagner: Die Walküre ASIN: B000056KNC Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

1. Act I.: Prld - Barry Tuckwell
2. Act I., Scene 1: Wearisome Labour! - Gregory Dempsey
3. Act I., Scene 1: Hoiho! Hoiho! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
4. Act I., Scene 1: Well, There Are The Pieces - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
5. Act I., Scene 1: A Whimpering Babe - Gregory Dempsey
6. Act I., Scene 1: Much You've Taught To Me, Mime - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
7. Act I., Scene 1: I Found Once in The Wood - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios
8. Act I., Scene 1: And Now These Fragments - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
9. Act I., Scene 1: He Storms Away! - Gregory Dempsey
10. Act I., Scene 2: Hail There, Worthy Smith! - Norman Bailey/Gregory Dempsey
11. Act I., Scene 2: I Sit By Your Hearth - Norman Bailey/Gregory Dempsey
12. Act I., Scene 2: What You Needed To Know - Norman Bailey/Gregory Dempsey
13. Act I., Scene 2: The Fragments! The Sword! - Gregory Dempsey/Norman Bailey

Tracks:

1. Act I., Scene 3: Accursed Light! - Gregory Dempsey
2. Act I., Scene 3: Hey There! You Idler! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
3. Act I., Scene 3: Have You Not Felt Within The Woods - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios
4. Act I., Scene 3: Give Me These Pieces - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
5. Act I., Scene 3: Notung! Notung! Sword Of My Need! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
6. Act I., Scene 3: Hoho! Hoho! Hohi! - Alberto Remedios/Gregory Dempsey
7. Act II.: Prld - Barry Tuckwell
8. Act II., Scene 1: In Gloomy Night By Fafner's Cave I Wait - Derek Hammond-Stroud
9. Act II., Scene 1: To Neidhohl By Night I Have Come - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud
10. Act II., Scene 1: Not My Plan! - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud
11. Act II., Scene 1: Fafner! Fafner! You Dragon, Wake! - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud/Clifford Grant
12. Act II., Scene 1: Now, Alberich! That Plan Failed! - Norman Bailey/Derek Hammond-Stroud
13. Act II., Scene 2: We Go No Further! - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios
14. Act II., Scene 2: So He's No Father Of Mine - Alberto Remedios

Tracks:

1. Act II., Scene 2: Could I But Know - Alberto Remedios
2. Act II., Scene 2: See My Mother - Alberto Remedios
3. Act II., Scene 2: Ha Ha! At Last With My Call - Alberto Remedios/Clifford Grant
4. Act II., Scene 2: Who Are You, Youthful Hero - Clifford Grant/Alberto Remedios
5. Act II., Scene 2: The Dead Can Tell No Tidings - Alberto Remedios/Maurine London
6. Act II., Scene 3: Hehe! Sly And Slippery Knave - Derek Hammond-Stroud/Gregory Dempsey
7. Act II., Scene 3: Tarnhelm And Ring, Here They Are - Alberto Remedios/Maurine London/Gregory Dempsey
8. Act II., Scene 3: Be Welcome, Siegfried! - Gregory Dempsey/Alberto Remedios/Derek Hammond-Stroud
9. Act II., Scene 3: You Lie There Too, Mighty Dragon - Alberto Remedios/Maurine London
10. Act III.: Prld - Barry Tuckwell
11. Act III., Scene 1: Waken, Wala! Wala! Awake! - Norman Bailey
12. Act III., Scene 1: Strong Is Your Call - Anne Collins/Norman Bailey
13. Act III., Scene 1: You Unwise One, Learn What I Will - Norman Bailey
14. Act III., Scene 2: I See That Siegfried's Near - Norman Bailey

Tracks:

1. Act III., Scene 2: My Woodbird Fluttered Away - Alberto Remedios
2. Act III., Scene 2: Young Man, Hear Me - Norman Bailey/Alberto Remedios
3. Act III., Scene 2: Child, If You Knew Who I Am - Norman Bailey/Alberto Remedios
4. Act III., Scene 2: With His Spear in Splinters - Alberto Remedios
5. Act III., Scene 3: Here in The Sunlight - Alberto Remedios
6. Act III., Scene 3: Come, My Sword! - Alberto Remedios
7. Act III., Scene 3: Hail, Bright Sunlight! - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
8. Act III., Scene 3: Siegfried! Siegfried! Glorious Hero! - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
9. Act III., Scene 3: And There Is Grane, My Sacred Horse - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
10. Act III., Scene 3: Oh! I Cared Always - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios

Customer Reviews:

Goodall's Siegfried.......2007-06-22

This is completely worth it. Other reviews aptly pointed out everything good, and this *is* good--brilliant. Alberto Remedios is the best Siegfried I've ever heard, and Rita Hunter is a stunning and convincing Brunnhilde. If I could give this more than five stars, I would.

"Do you know what Wotan wills?".......2007-06-12

Okay, so we have the Solti, Bohm, Karajan, Levine, Janowski, Goodall, and Sawallisch Rings on the market (I haven't listened to the other Ring recordings yet, sorry to say). And all of these leave me to one conclusion: the many differences lead me to believe that all of these ring sets have their own authenticities and setbacks. And here they are:

TIMING (Estimate):
Solti's Ring: 14 hours, 30 minutes
Bohm's Ring: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Karajan's Ring: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Goodall's Ring: 16 hours, 50 minutes
Janowski's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
Levine's Ring: 15 hours, 20 minutes
Sawallisch's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes

CONDUCTING:
Solti: Solti's conducting is driven with sheer muscle, but sometimes he makes the Ring overemotional. His Walkure & Gotterdammerung Preludes are clear examples: they're annoyingly bombastic. Nonetheless he almost seldom loses control with anything. His clear focus on the drama is astonishing.

Bohm: I must say his live Bayreuth recording brings out some of the best. He puts more faith in the orchestral score, but he also gives it more intensity. His tempi are some of the quickest, but they still don't seem rushed at all (except maybe "Wohin schleich'st du eilig und schlau"). I especially like his "Forging Scene" & "Hagen Summons the Vassals"; both are the most energetic on disc.

Karajan: Karajan's chamber approach is very interesting. Instead of going for the drama or the energy, the conductor goes for the beauty. Almost everything in his Ring sounds very ethereal because of his excessive use of lyricism. His orchestral preludes (except Walkure Act 1) sound more beautiful than others, and much of the soft parts (such as Siegfried Act Three Scene Three) are controlled nicely. His "Funeral March" and "Immolation" are recommendable. Siegfried Act Three Scene Two could have improved with more tension.

Goodall: Oh, boy. While I do praise Goodall with his amazing attention to detail, his ridiculously sluggish tempi will tick some Wagnerites off: everything is slower than adagio moderato. But I did enjoy listening to the slow beauty of his "Wotan's Farewell/Magic Fire Music". This was recorded live and sung in English.

Janowski: This is a very classical Ring. Instead of bombast, spacious, or lyrical passion, maestro Janowski gives us the straightforward approach. He goes straight for Wagner's original intentions (precise tempi, dynamics, flow of leitmotivs, etc.), which makes this another exquisite Ring. "Hagen Summons the Vassals" is probably the fastest I've ever heard (along with Sawallisch's). Rheingold Scene Four can be best described as "sensational".

Levine: While he does stay true to the score like Bohm, this conductor makes for a somewhat dull Ring. His handling of the orchestra is nice, but the moderately slow tempi he chooses is flawed. It should be more animated. His beautiful "Funeral March" and "Erda's Warning" are two of the few flawless features.

Sawallisch: I guess you can say that Sawallisch is half-Karajan, half-Janowski. While he does stay true to the orchestral score like Janowski, he also puts in a little Karajan-like lyricism. At some points he loses track with orchestra and singers (as does every live recording) but Bohm has more control. This was also recorded live.

ORCHESTRA:
Solti's Vienna Philharmonic: The woodwinds are the most beautiful in Solti's Ring (the "Forest Murmurs" is clear evidence of that). French horns and Wagner tubas make this a recommended listening. The strings in "Heda Heda Hedo" could've added a bit more work, but they are strikingly spectacular everywhere else. The orchestra gives it their all in Siegfried Act Two & Three, but they are at their weakest in Walkure Act One & Three (Bohm's Bayreuth does it better). Overall, it's the loudest and certainly most bombastic out of all the Ring orchestras combined.

Bohm's Bayreuth Festival: The ultimate Wagnerian orchestra gives it their all. The brass both high and low are the most powerful, while the woodwinds are the most delicate. The strings are muffled only a few times, otherwise the eighteen anvils are perfectly loud and clear. Erda's scenes aren't as effective as Janowski's, but the entire Walkure is more successful than Janowski's when it comes to tone & technique. Overall, this orchestra is the most dramatic.

Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic: The entire orchestra sounds polished, not to say that it is bad. Indeed the drama is still there, but much of the suspense is lacking (the scenes with Fasolt and Fafner come to mind). The brass sometimes overpowers the strings, which can be a serious problem. Gotterdammerung "Three Norns" Scene sounds very mysterious, very eerie.

Goodall's English National Opera: This orchestra sounds nice, even if the sluggishness can bring them down at times. The Flight of the Valkyries doesn't sound too good in a slow tempo, but the entire orchestra does sound lucid here. Siegfried Act One Prelude is the creepiest. All of the leitmotivs are heard loud and clear, just like in Janowski's version.

Janowski's Staatskapelle Dresden: This orchestra has the same force & flair as does Bohm's Bayreuth Festival, only Dresden sounds much clearer due to the fantastic digital sound. Even minor details are found in this Ring. I can hear harps in Flight of the Valkyries! The strings imitate the Siegfried forest very well, while the woodwinds representing the songbird are wonderful (but not as wonderful as Solti's songbird). Dresden's "Magic Fire Music" (along with Berlin's) is the most extravagant.

Levine's Metropolitan Opera: The brass and woodwinds are the true stars. The strings sound too tired to continue on in Siegfried & Gotterdammerung. The Finale to Rheingold is absolutely stunning (the trumpets and trombones will not disappoint), and the Second Act of Walkure is the most impressive, the most refined.

Sawallisch's Bavarian State: Wrong notes in this live recording won't matter, as the entire orchestra gets everything going in all four nights at the opera. The strings never surrender to imperfection, and the winds are marvelously aligned. I just wish that some of the singers would keep up with the orchestra.

SINGERS:
-Wotan
Solti: Hans Hotter is the superior Wotan. He sounds powerful throughout the Ring (except Rheingold, in which a less stellar George London performs).

Bohm and Janowski: Theo Adam in Bohm's live recording is another treat. While he is not as equally impressive as Hotter, he can certainly conjure up everlasting emotions. Adam sounds weaker in Janowski's studio recording, but he still doesn't disappoint.

Karajan: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau plays Wotan in "Rheingold," while Thomas Stewart replaces Fischer-Dieskau in "Walkure" and "Siegfried". I don't think Fischer-Dieskau was a good choice; he sounds too humane and too light. Stewart makes an astounding improvement in both "Walkure" and "Siegfried".

Goodall: Norman Bailey has that divine spark that Hotter used to cherish. He's heavy and unblemished, and he handles the English text with flair and sheen.

Levine: James Morris is a notch below Hotter, Adam, and Bailey, but he overpowers Fischer-Dieskau pretty much throughout the Levine's Ring.

Sawallisch: I may be biased, but Robert Hale just didn't do it for me. He sounded dull and tedious, and his Wotan's Farewell wasn't enough to sadden me.

-Brunnhilde
Solti and Bohm: Birgit Nilsson is the best Brunnhilde on the market. Her Valkyrie cry is delightful, and her final scene in Gotterdammerung is brilliant beyond belief.

Karajan: Regine Crespin is without a doubt one of the finest Brunnhildes after Nilsson. She's fantastic in Walkure Act Three. I just wish she stayed on as the Valkyrie later on in the Ring (Helga Dernesch is no good in Gotterdammerung, sorry to say).

Goodall: Rita Hunter is at her strongest in Walkure and Siegfried. She is at her weakest in Gotterdammerung. What may have caused her downfall in the fourth installment? "The world may never know."

Janowski: Jeannine Altmeyer is basically the most controversial Brunnhilde on CD. Some people say that she's too light and weak, while others say she sounds young and very enchanting. I'm with those who think Altmeyer was a good choice, but you yourself (the shopper) are going to have to decide whether she's good or not.

Levine and Sawallisch: Hildegard Behrens is just like Nilsson and Crespin: while she's not the best, she is definitely another perfect Brunnhilde of choice. She's at her most dazzling when she performs Walkure (Levine) and Siegfried (Sawallisch).

-Siegmund & Sieglinde
Let's see. For the Siegmunds, we have James King for Solti and Bohm. Jon Vickers for Karajan, Alberto Remedios for Goodall, Siegfried Jerusalem for Janowski, Gary Lakes for Levine, and Robert Schunk for Sawallisch. For the Sieglindes, we have Regine Crespin for Solti, Leonie Rysanek for Bohm, Gundula Janowitz for Karajan, Margaret Curphy for Goodall, Jessye Norman for both Janowski and Levine, and Julia Varady for Sawallisch. Hmm . . . Jerusalem is good . . . and so is Vickers . . . Janowitz is charming, and so is . . . Oh, what the heck? All the singers for Siegmund and Sieglinde are fantastic. Two exceptions, though: Robert Schunk doesn't sound heroic enough, and Jessye Norman for Levine's Ring doesn't sound young and innocent enough.

-Siegfried
Solti and Bohm: Wolfgang Windgassen may very well be the best Siegfried for the ages. His `Forging Scene" in both renditions are defiantly inspiring. His last scene in Gotterdammerung is celestial and overwhelming.

Karajan: Jess Thomas (Siegfried) and Helge Brilioth (Gotterdammerung) may not be as ideal as Windgassen, but they do know how to be a magnificent heldentenor. Thomas pulls it off with Act One and Three.

Goodall: Wow! What a singer that Alberto Remedios! He never drags in either of the last two installments, and he uses the correct emotions in every scene that he is in.

Janowski and Sawallisch: Rene Kollo's Siegfried is a poetically expressive one. In Janowski's version he sounds playful when he's in Mime's home, and he sounds willed when he's in the Gibich Hall. He is not good enough in Sawallisch's version, however. His tiresome "Forging Scene" is obvious evidence of that.

Levine: Oh, Reiner Goldberg. At least you tried. Seriously, he sounds too tedious (especially in Gotterdammerung Act Three Scene Two) and too old. I don't know Levine should've chose Kollo when he recorded his Ring.

-Alberich
Solti and Bohm: Gustav Niedlinger has a heaviness that overwhelms a few other baritones. When he sings his only sequence in Gotterdammerung Act Two Scene One, his emotion is so pure that his son Hagen would've drowned himself in tears (Too melodramatic? Sorry about that.). The only problem is that his character sounds too one-dimensional. Alberich isn't just some cardboard-cutout bad guy. He has a very good reason why he wants to take revenge on the world. Overall, Niedlinger is amazing throughout Wagner's Ring (He deserves many awards for "Bin ich nun frei?").

Karajan: I guess you can say that Zoltan Kelemen tries his best throughout. He is not good in Rheingold, but he gets better in Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.

Goodall: Derek Hammond-Stroud is three-dimensional, but not that much. Still, he can sound very demanding in Rheingold Scene One and Siegfried Act Two Scene One.

Janowski: Siegmund Nimsgern may be the most humane Alberich yet, but it's all good. He sings with more passion than Kelemen and more robustness than Hammond-Stroud. Niedlinger's ferociousness puts him below, however. "Schaf'st du, Hagen, mein sohn?" is noteworthy.

Levine and Sawallisch: Ekkehard Wlaschiha is one hell of a vigorous Alberich. I praise him in Rheingold Scene One and Three. His performance in Siegfried (both versions) could've improved with more distrustfulness towards Mime and the Wanderer.

-Mime
Solti and Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is the creepiest Mime ever known to humankind. This dwarf outsings other Mimes on the market. When he sings "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" his anger and fear is the most effective to almost all Ring listeners.

Bohm: Erwin Wohlfahrt wins second place. He gives a first-rate performance in Siegfried Act One, but loses some of his edge in Act Two. He is an exceptional Mime nonetheless. Look for him in Karajan's Rheingold, also.

Goodall: Gregory Dempsey isn't emotional enough. He doesn't sound fearful or depressed at all, which makes him the dullest Mime for the Ring.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is for Siegfried, while Christian Vogel is for Rheingold. Vogel is less than perfect, while Schreier is way beyond outstanding. Schreier is less ghoulish and more benevolent, more three-dimensional than Stolze and Wohlfahrt. The only flaw I can find is his handling of "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" He could've added a bit more fear in that sequence.

Levine: Heinz Zednik is yet another excellent mime. He is equal to Schreier when it comes to humaneness and lyricism. His performance in Rheingold Scene Three is pure gold, while his performance in Siegfried (particularly "Willkommen, Siegfried!") is a stunning achievement.

Sawallisch: Helmut Pampuch is just like Schreier and Zednik: he's very VERY good. Nuff said.

-Loge
Solti: Set Svanholm may be the weakest Loge. He is not very ominous throughout all of his scenes, and his lack of a sinister atmosphere is greatly affects the entire Rheingold. But he'll soon be forgotten later on in the Ring.

Bohm: Why the heck would the conductor have Wolfgang Windgassen play both Siegfried AND Loge? The demi-god needs to sound different from a son of a Walsung. Still, it's satisfactory, and his "Ihrem ende eilen sie zu" gives great foreshadowing.

Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is easily the most entertaining Loge to listen to. His scenes in Scene Three are delightful.

Goodall: Emile Belcourt isn't as good as Stolze, but he certainly can make some of the best of an English-speaking Loge.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is the most eccentric out of all of them, and that's a fact. Much of his singing involves imagination, peril, vengeance, and deviousness. Belcourt depends only on imagination and deviousness, Stolze only vengeance and deviousness, and Windgassen only peril. His odd conversations with Alberich and the gods/goddesses are classic.

Levine: Siegfried Jerusalem doesn't seem like a good choice for Loge. He's better off playing Siegmund or Siegfried, but not a demi-god.

Sawallisch: Robert Tear is on par with Stolze and Schreier. Sometimes he takes things too low, but all is forgiven with his management of character development.

-Everyone Else
Uh-huh, what can I say? Everyone else does a good job in all Ring recordings (maybe not in Swarowsky's version). Matti Salminen is the perfect Hagen (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch), while Kirsten Flagstad is the most brilliant Fricka (Solti). The Norns and Rheinmaidens do a splendid job in Solti, Janowski, and Levine. The Vassals (male choir) are at their unsurpassed in Bohm and Goodall. The only flawed Erda is Anne Collins (Goodall), maybe too light and too heavy at times. All in all, no one here is graded C or lower.

CONCLUSION: I have yet to listen to Barenboim's Bayreuth presentation and the essential mono recordings (Furtwangler, Krauss), but I'm pretty sure that have their advantages and disadvantages. So there you have it. We have the histrionic Solti, the energetic Bohm, the otherworldly Karajan, the spacious Goodall, the calculated Janowski, the relaxed Levine, and the serious Sawallisch Rings. They have their own authenticities and setbacks, and they certainly have their own significances for Ring listeners everywhere.


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

Karl Bohm: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Herbert von Karajan: Der Ring des Nibelungen / Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic

Goodall: Wagner: The Ring Cycle (Box Set)
-The Rhinegold (Part 1): Wagner: The Rhinegold
-The Valkyrie (Part 2): Wagner: The Valkyrie
-Twilight of the Gods (Part 4): The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)

Marek Janowski: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

James Levine: Der Ring Des Nibelungen

-Wolfgang Sawllisch: Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sawallisch, Bayerischer Staatsoper

Slow and steady wins the race.......2007-02-07

Yes, we all know that Reginal Goodall's Wagner is VERY deliberate (read slow) at times. When I heard the late Rita Hunter singing in Sydney in the 80s, I asked her about working with Maestro Goodall, she said he was one of the most thorough and demanding conductor's you could wish to work with.

For me, this whole cycle is desert island material because the English translation is just superb. Fine singing and marvellous playing from the ENO orchestra.

Absolutely better than you think, the best of Goodal's Ring!.......2005-05-03

As good as his die Walkure is, Goodall's Siegfried is even better. For me this is the most difficult opera of the entire Ring and Goodall pulls it off with honors indeed. Remedios is a wonder! Wish we had had him in the Met Ring Cycles of the past decade. Hunter again is a wonder with beauty and strength of tone. Once more I enjoy Bailey. I found That Alan Blyth in Gramophone 5/01 and I seem to appreciate him. It would seem that Goodall gives this opera all the wonderful performance it needs. Not an easy show to pull off. This recording absolutely belongs in any Wagnerian's collection. Had I been at this live performance, I definitely would not have fallen asleep and would have regretted its coming to its inevitable end. And the orchestra rises to the occasion splendidly. From Siegfried's climb to Brunhilde's rock until the end of the duet, the orchestral playing is rich, very moving bordering on the monumental just because it is live and thus more of a risk than a studio recording. Hunter is nothing short of stunning. The duet alone makes the recording a must have. Too bad artists are not fully appreciated until we no longer have them around to enjoy. Thank God this is on CD to be enjoyed at the listener's command.

Better than you might think...........2002-03-17

I had to think more than twice before purchasing this recording, especially since it isnt at a budget price, but I dont regret having done so. Wagner's original German language opera sung in English might seem more like a novelty recording (or a horrifying experience to hardcore Wagner fans) than a serious approach to the music, but surprisingly it works (for the most part). For the listener who doesn't speak and understand German this is a great way to understand Wagner's opera, as the connection between text and drama is made clearer--though I sometimes wish the singers diction and pronunciation were a bit clearer--but hey, its still opera and a complete English only libretto is included (along with a scene by scene summary of the drama, a summary of the preceding two operas, and an essay and photos of this particular project). Overall the orchestra and conducting is up to par and the sound is clear, balanced, and spacious, the only annoying thing being the audience clapping after the end of each act--its a live 1975 recording. While this is no substitute for the original in German, think of it as a great resource ... to understanding Wagner's opera cycle for listeners without the time or inclination to learn German.

Average customer rating: "If wrong should befall her, be swift to vengeance!" A Miracle! Great - though not flawless - Performance

The Twilight of the Gods (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) English National Opera Manufacturer: Chandos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music Similar Items: Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English) Wagner: The Valkyrie Wagner: The Rhinegold ASIN: B00005LZVX Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

1. Prld: What Light Shines Down There? - Anne Collins/Gillian Knight/Anne Evans
2. Prld: Wotan Made Holy Laws And Treaties - Gillian Knight
3. Prld: That Mighty Hall The Giants Have Raised - Anne Collins/Gillian Knight/Anne Evans
4. Prld: Now The God Will Seize The Spear That Was Shattered - Anne Collins/Gillian Knight/Anne Evans
5. Prld: Dawn Music/To Deeds Of Glory - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
6. Prld: Ah, But To Prove You Love Me - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
7. Prld: Love, I Leave You Alone - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
8. Prld: So By Your Daring I Am Fired - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
9. Prld: O Heavenly Rulers! - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios
10. Prld: Siegfried's Rhine Journey - ENO Orch/Reginald Goodall
11. Act I, Scene 1: Now Hear, Hagen - Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland
12. Act I, Scene 1: What Woman Should I Wed...? - Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland/Margaret Curphey
13. Act I, Scene 1: At Neidhohle The Nibelung Gold Was Guarded - Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby
14. Act I, Scene 1: You Mock Me, Wicked Hagen! - Margaret Curphey/Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby
15. Act I, Scene 1: Merrily Seeking Adventures And Fame - Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby/Alberto Remedios
16. Act I, Scene 2: Which Is Gibich's Son? - Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland
17. Act I, Scene 2: I Welcome You , My Friend - Norman Welsby/Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland
18. Act I, Scene 2: That Treasure I Quite Forgot - Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby
19. Act I, Scene 2: Welcome, O Guest, To Gibich's House! - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby

Tracks:

1. Act I, Scene 2: With Your Brother I Promised To Serve - Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby
2. Act I, Scene 2: I Fear Not The Flames - Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby
3. Act I, Scene 2: Flourishing Life's Refreshing Blood - Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland
4. Act I, Scene 2: Now On Our Way! - Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby/Margaret Curphey/Aage Haugland
5. Act I, Scene 2: I Sit Here And Wait (Hagen's Watch) - Aage Haugland
6. Act I, Scene 3: Sounds I Once Knew So Well - Rita Hunter/Katherine Pring
7. Act I, Scene 3: You've Come To Me? - Rita Hunter/Katherine Pring
8. Act I, Scene 3: Fear And Dread I Read In Your Features! - Rita Hunter/Katherine Pring
9. Act I, Scene 3: Hear Me With Care, And I Will Tell You! - Katherine Pring
10. Act I, Scene 3: He Sits There, Speaks No Word - Katherine Pring
11. Act I, Scene 3: These Tales Of Evil Fancies - Rita Hunter
12. Act I, Scene 3: Upon Your Hand, The Ring - Katherine Pring/Rita Hunter
13. Act I, Scene 3: Go Home To The Sacred Clan Of The Gods! - Rita Hunter/Katherine Pring
14. Act I, Scene 3: Borne On The Wind - Rita Hunter
15. Act I, Scene 3: Brunnhild! Your Husband Comes - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
16. Act I, Scene 3: The Night Draws On - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter
17. Act I, Scene 3: Now Nothing Can Save Me - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios

Tracks:

1. Act II, Scene 1: Prld - ENO Orch/Reginald Goodall
2. Act II, Scene 1: Sleep You, Hagen, My Son? - Derek Hammond-Stroud/Aage Haugland
3. Act II, Scene 1: The Might Of The Gods - Aage Haugland/Derek Hammond-Stroud
4. Act II, Scene 1: That Ring Shall Be Hagen's - Aage Haugland/Derek Hammond-Stroud
5. Act II, Scene 2: Hoiho! Hagen! Fast Asleep? - Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland/Margaret Curphey
6. Act II, Scene 2: Yet My Siegfried Was With Brunnhild? - Margaret Curphey/Alberto Remedios
7. Act II, Scene 2: I Can See A Sail In The Distance - Aage Haugland/Alberto Remedios/Margaret Curphey
8. Act II, Scene 3: Hoiho! Hoihohoho! (Hagen Summons The Vassals) - Aage Haugland/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
9. Act II, Scene 3: Come To My Call, And Arm Yourselves! - Aage Haugland/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
10. Act II, Scene 3: Glad Times Have Come - ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland/Aage Haugland
11. Act II, Scene 4: Welcome Gunther! - ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland/Norman Welsby
12. Act II, Scene 4: I Greet You, Noble Friend - Norman Welsby/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland/Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter/Aage Haugland
13. Act II, Scene 4: A Ring I Saw Upon Your Hand - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby
14. Act II, Scene 4: Ha! - Siegfried Stole It - Rita Hunter/Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland/Margaret Curphey/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
15. Act II, Scene 4: Hear In Walhall, Mighty Immortals! - Rita Hunter/Norman Welsby/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
16. Act II, Scene 4: Would You Defile Your Name So Lightly? - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland/Norman Welsby/Margaret Curphey/Aage Haugland
17. Act II, Scene 4:Shining Steel! Holiest Weapon! - Alberto Remedios/Rita Hunter/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
18. Act II, Scene 4: Gunther, Look To Your Wife There - Alberto Remedios
19. Act II, Scene 5: Dark, Unholy Powers Lie Here Around Me! - Rita Hunter
20. Act II, Scene 5: Have Trust In Me, Offended Wife! - Aage Haugland/Rita Hunter
21. Act II, Scene 5: Can No Weapon's Point Then Pierce Him? - Aage Haugland/Rita Hunter/Norman Welsby
22. Act II, Scene 5: Deceived Am I - And Deceiver! - Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland
23. Act II, Scene 5: He Betrayed You - Rita Hunter/Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby
24. Act II, Scene 5: Since This Blow Must Be Dealt Her - Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby/Rita Hunter

Tracks:

1. Act III: Prld - ENO Orch/Reginald Goodall
2. Act III, Scene 1: Fair Sunlight, Shine On Us In Splendour - Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield
3. Act III, Scene 1: Fair Sunlight, Send To Us The Hero - Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield
4. Act III, Scene 1: A Goblin Led Me Astray - Alberto Remedios/Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield
5. Act III, Scene 1: Siegfried, If We Find Your Bear - Valerie Masterson/Alberto Remedios/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield
6. Act III, Scene 1: Why Should I Let Them Laugh And Jeer? - Alberto Remedios/Helen Attfield/Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires
7. Act III, Scene 1: Siegfried!..Evil Lies In That Ring - Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield/Alberto Remedios
8. Act III, Scene 1: Siegfried!...Give Heed To Our Words - Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield/Alberto Remedios
9. Act III, Scene 1: Come, Sisters! Flee From This Madman! - Valerie Masterson/Shelagh Squires/Helen Attfield/Alberto Remedios
10. Act III, Scene 2: Hoiho! - Aage Haugland/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland/Alberto Remedios
11. Act III, Scene 2: You Drove The Game Away From Us - Aage Haugland/Alberto Remedios
12. Act III, Scene 2: Drink, Gunther, Drink - Alberto Remedios/Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland
13. Act III, Scene 2: Mime Was A Hideous Dwarf (Siegfried's Narration) - Alberto Remedios
14. Act III, Scene 2: Now You Must Hear What Happened Next - Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
15. Act III, Scene 2: Ring And Tarnhelm - Both I Had Found - Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland
16. Act III, Scene 2: In Grief I Watched The Branches Above - Alberto Remedios/Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby/ENO Chor/Kenneth Cleveland

Tracks:

1. Act III, Scene 2: Brunnhilde! Holiest Bride! - Alberto Remedios
2. Act III, Scene 2: Siegfried's Funeral March - ENO Orch/Reginald Goodall
3. Act III, Scene 3: Was That His Horn? - Margaret Curphey
4. Act III, Scene 3: Ah, If Siegfried Were Back! - Margaret Curphey/Aage Haugland/Norman Welsby
5. Act III, Scene 3: Cast Not The Blame On Me - Norman Welsby/Aage Haugland
6. Act III, Scene 3: Peace With Your Cries Of Useless Lament! - Rita Hunter/Margaret Curphey
7. Act III, Scene 3: Poor Creature, Peace! - Rita Hunter/Margaret Curphey
8. Act III, Scene 3: Sturdy Branches, Building His Pyre (Brunnhilde's Immolation) - Rita Hunter
9. Act III, Scene 3: The Sun In Radiance Shines From His Eyes - Rita Hunter
10. Act III, Scene 3: O You, You Guardians - Rita Hunter
11. Act III, Scene 3: My Heritage I Claim From The Hero - Rita Hunter
12. Act III, Scene 3: Fly Home, You Ravens! - Rita Hunter
13. Act III, Scene 3: Grane, My Horse! - Rita Hunter
14. Act III, Scene 3: Give Back The Ring! - Aage Haugland

Amazon.com

With the release of this disc, Chandos completes its digital remastering of the complete English National Opera Ring cycle recorded live in the late 1970s--and a fantastic set it is, too. As in the other recordings (The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie, and Siegfried), Goodall shows himself to be a master Wagnerian of the first order with a sure grasp of the massive score, from its largest structures to its smallest details. His obvious passion for the music clearly inspires the ENO Orchestra to give of its best--the playing is extraordinarily powerful and perfectly attuned to the drama of each scene (Siegfried's Funeral Procession is spine-tingling). Rita Hunter has the necessary lung power to make Brunnhilde's lines soar over the orchestra, but Hunter characterizes her with subtlety, too. Even when she asks for the death of Siegfried (Alberto Remedios, bright and powerful), her voice is warm with love for him. Aage Haugland doesn't have a beautiful voice, but in many ways this helps make him an ideal Hagen, full of spite and cunning. The translation is a masterpiece in its own right, and the booklet (including libretto) is crammed with information. A must-have. --Warwick Thompson

Customer Reviews:

"If wrong should befall her, be swift to vengeance!".......2007-06-12

Okay, so we have the Solti, Bohm, Karajan, Levine, Janowski, Goodall, and Sawallisch Rings on the market (I haven't listened to the other Ring recordings yet, sorry to say). And all of these leave me to one conclusion: the many differences lead me to believe that all of these ring sets have their own authenticities and setbacks. And here they are:

TIMING (Estimate):
Solti's Ring: 14 hours, 30 minutes
Bohm's Ring: 13 hours, 30 minutes
Karajan's Ring: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Goodall's Ring: 16 hours, 50 minutes
Janowski's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes
Levine's Ring: 15 hours, 20 minutes
Sawallisch's Ring: 14 hours, 0 minutes

CONDUCTING:
Solti: Solti's conducting is driven with sheer muscle, but sometimes he makes the Ring overemotional. His Walkure & Gotterdammerung Preludes are clear examples: they're annoyingly bombastic. Nonetheless he almost seldom loses control with anything. His clear focus on the drama is astonishing.

Bohm: I must say his live Bayreuth recording brings out some of the best. He puts more faith in the orchestral score, but he also gives it more intensity. His tempi are some of the quickest, but they still don't seem rushed at all (except maybe "Wohin schleich'st du eilig und schlau"). I especially like his "Forging Scene" & "Hagen Summons the Vassals"; both are the most energetic on disc.

Karajan: Karajan's chamber approach is very interesting. Instead of going for the drama or the energy, the conductor goes for the beauty. Almost everything in his Ring sounds very ethereal because of his excessive use of lyricism. His orchestral preludes (except Walkure Act 1) sound more beautiful than others, and much of the soft parts (such as Siegfried Act Three Scene Three) are controlled nicely. His "Funeral March" and "Immolation" are recommendable. Siegfried Act Three Scene Two could have improved with more tension.

Goodall: Oh, boy. While I do praise Goodall with his amazing attention to detail, his ridiculously sluggish tempi will tick some Wagnerites off: everything is slower than adagio moderato. But I did enjoy listening to the slow beauty of his "Wotan's Farewell/Magic Fire Music". This was recorded live and sung in English.

Janowski: This is a very classical Ring. Instead of bombast, spacious, or lyrical passion, maestro Janowski gives us the straightforward approach. He goes straight for Wagner's original intentions (precise tempi, dynamics, flow of leitmotivs, etc.), which makes this another exquisite Ring. "Hagen Summons the Vassals" is probably the fastest I've ever heard (along with Sawallisch's). Rheingold Scene Four can be best described as "sensational".

Levine: While he does stay true to the score like Bohm, this conductor makes for a somewhat dull Ring. His handling of the orchestra is nice, but the moderately slow tempi he chooses is flawed. It should be more animated. His beautiful "Funeral March" and "Erda's Warning" are two of the few flawless features.

Sawallisch: I guess you can say that Sawallisch is half-Karajan, half-Janowski. While he does stay true to the orchestral score like Janowski, he also puts in a little Karajan-like lyricism. At some points he loses track with orchestra and singers (as does every live recording) but Bohm has more control. This was also recorded live.

ORCHESTRA:
Solti's Vienna Philharmonic: The woodwinds are the most beautiful in Solti's Ring (the "Forest Murmurs" is clear evidence of that). French horns and Wagner tubas make this a recommended listening. The strings in "Heda Heda Hedo" could've added a bit more work, but they are strikingly spectacular everywhere else. The orchestra gives it their all in Siegfried Act Two & Three, but they are at their weakest in Walkure Act One & Three (Bohm's Bayreuth does it better). Overall, it's the loudest and certainly most bombastic out of all the Ring orchestras combined.

Bohm's Bayreuth Festival: The ultimate Wagnerian orchestra gives it their all. The brass both high and low are the most powerful, while the woodwinds are the most delicate. The strings are muffled only a few times, otherwise the eighteen anvils are perfectly loud and clear. Erda's scenes aren't as effective as Janowski's, but the entire Walkure is more successful than Janowski's when it comes to tone & technique. Overall, this orchestra is the most dramatic.

Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic: The entire orchestra sounds polished, not to say that it is bad. Indeed the drama is still there, but much of the suspense is lacking (the scenes with Fasolt and Fafner come to mind). The brass sometimes overpowers the strings, which can be a serious problem. Gotterdammerung "Three Norns" Scene sounds very mysterious, very eerie.

Goodall's English National Opera: This orchestra sounds nice, even if the sluggishness can bring them down at times. The Flight of the Valkyries doesn't sound too good in a slow tempo, but the entire orchestra does sound lucid here. Siegfried Act One Prelude is the creepiest. All of the leitmotivs are heard loud and clear, just like in Janowski's version.

Janowski's Staatskapelle Dresden: This orchestra has the same force & flair as does Bohm's Bayreuth Festival, only Dresden sounds much clearer due to the fantastic digital sound. Even minor details are found in this Ring. I can hear harps in Flight of the Valkyries! The strings imitate the Siegfried forest very well, while the woodwinds representing the songbird are wonderful (but not as wonderful as Solti's songbird). Dresden's "Magic Fire Music" (along with Berlin's) is the most extravagant.

Levine's Metropolitan Opera: The brass and woodwinds are the true stars. The strings sound too tired to continue on in Siegfried & Gotterdammerung. The Finale to Rheingold is absolutely stunning (the trumpets and trombones will not disappoint), and the Second Act of Walkure is the most impressive, the most refined.

Sawallisch's Bavarian State: Wrong notes in this live recording won't matter, as the entire orchestra gets everything going in all four nights at the opera. The strings never surrender to imperfection, and the winds are marvelously aligned. I just wish that some of the singers would keep up with the orchestra.

SINGERS:
-Wotan
Solti: Hans Hotter is the superior Wotan. He sounds powerful throughout the Ring (except Rheingold, in which a less stellar George London performs).

Bohm and Janowski: Theo Adam in Bohm's live recording is another treat. While he is not as equally impressive as Hotter, he can certainly conjure up everlasting emotions. Adam sounds weaker in Janowski's studio recording, but he still doesn't disappoint.

Karajan: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau plays Wotan in "Rheingold," while Thomas Stewart replaces Fischer-Dieskau in "Walkure" and "Siegfried". I don't think Fischer-Dieskau was a good choice; he sounds too humane and too light. Stewart makes an astounding improvement in both "Walkure" and "Siegfried".

Goodall: Norman Bailey has that divine spark that Hotter used to cherish. He's heavy and unblemished, and he handles the English text with flair and sheen.

Levine: James Morris is a notch below Hotter, Adam, and Bailey, but he overpowers Fischer-Dieskau pretty much throughout the Levine's Ring.

Sawallisch: I may be biased, but Robert Hale just didn't do it for me. He sounded dull and tedious, and his Wotan's Farewell wasn't enough to sadden me.

-Brunnhilde
Solti and Bohm: Birgit Nilsson is the best Brunnhilde on the market. Her Valkyrie cry is delightful, and her final scene in Gotterdammerung is brilliant beyond belief.

Karajan: Regine Crespin is without a doubt one of the finest Brunnhildes after Nilsson. She's fantastic in Walkure Act Three. I just wish she stayed on as the Valkyrie later on in the Ring (Helga Dernesch is no good in Gotterdammerung, sorry to say).

Goodall: Rita Hunter is at her strongest in Walkure and Siegfried. She is at her weakest in Gotterdammerung. What may have caused her downfall in the fourth installment? "The world may never know."

Janowski: Jeannine Altmeyer is basically the most controversial Brunnhilde on CD. Some people say that she's too light and weak, while others say she sounds young and very enchanting. I'm with those who think Altmeyer was a good choice, but you yourself (the shopper) are going to have to decide whether she's good or not.

Levine and Sawallisch: Hildegard Behrens is just like Nilsson and Crespin: while she's not the best, she is definitely another perfect Brunnhilde of choice. She's at her most dazzling when she performs Walkure (Levine) and Siegfried (Sawallisch).

-Siegmund & Sieglinde
Let's see. For the Siegmunds, we have James King for Solti and Bohm. Jon Vickers for Karajan, Alberto Remedios for Goodall, Siegfried Jerusalem for Janowski, Gary Lakes for Levine, and Robert Schunk for Sawallisch. For the Sieglindes, we have Regine Crespin for Solti, Leonie Rysanek for Bohm, Gundula Janowitz for Karajan, Margaret Curphy for Goodall, Jessye Norman for both Janowski and Levine, and Julia Varady for Sawallisch. Hmm . . . Jerusalem is good . . . and so is Vickers . . . Janowitz is charming, and so is . . . Oh, what the heck? All the singers for Siegmund and Sieglinde are fantastic. Two exceptions, though: Robert Schunk doesn't sound heroic enough, and Jessye Norman for Levine's Ring doesn't sound young and innocent enough.

-Siegfried
Solti and Bohm: Wolfgang Windgassen may very well be the best Siegfried for the ages. His `Forging Scene" in both renditions are defiantly inspiring. His last scene in Gotterdammerung is celestial and overwhelming.

Karajan: Jess Thomas (Siegfried) and Helge Brilioth (Gotterdammerung) may not be as ideal as Windgassen, but they do know how to be a magnificent heldentenor. Thomas pulls it off with Act One and Three.

Goodall: Wow! What a singer that Alberto Remedios! He never drags in either of the last two installments, and he uses the correct emotions in every scene that he is in.

Janowski and Sawallisch: Rene Kollo's Siegfried is a poetically expressive one. In Janowski's version he sounds playful when he's in Mime's home, and he sounds willed when he's in the Gibich Hall. He is not good enough in Sawallisch's version, however. His tiresome "Forging Scene" is obvious evidence of that.

Levine: Oh, Reiner Goldberg. At least you tried. Seriously, he sounds too tedious (especially in Gotterdammerung Act Three Scene Two) and too old. I don't know Levine should've chose Kollo when he recorded his Ring.

-Alberich
Solti and Bohm: Gustav Niedlinger has a heaviness that overwhelms a few other baritones. When he sings his only sequence in Gotterdammerung Act Two Scene One, his emotion is so pure that his son Hagen would've drowned himself in tears (Too melodramatic? Sorry about that.). The only problem is that his character sounds too one-dimensional. Alberich isn't just some cardboard-cutout bad guy. He has a very good reason why he wants to take revenge on the world. Overall, Niedlinger is amazing throughout Wagner's Ring (He deserves many awards for "Bin ich nun frei?").

Karajan: I guess you can say that Zoltan Kelemen tries his best throughout. He is not good in Rheingold, but he gets better in Siegfried and Gotterdammerung.

Goodall: Derek Hammond-Stroud is three-dimensional, but not that much. Still, he can sound very demanding in Rheingold Scene One and Siegfried Act Two Scene One.

Janowski: Siegmund Nimsgern may be the most humane Alberich yet, but it's all good. He sings with more passion than Kelemen and more robustness than Hammond-Stroud. Niedlinger's ferociousness puts him below, however. "Schaf'st du, Hagen, mein sohn?" is noteworthy.

Levine and Sawallisch: Ekkehard Wlaschiha is one hell of a vigorous Alberich. I praise him in Rheingold Scene One and Three. His performance in Siegfried (both versions) could've improved with more distrustfulness towards Mime and the Wanderer.

-Mime
Solti and Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is the creepiest Mime ever known to humankind. This dwarf outsings other Mimes on the market. When he sings "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" his anger and fear is the most effective to almost all Ring listeners.

Bohm: Erwin Wohlfahrt wins second place. He gives a first-rate performance in Siegfried Act One, but loses some of his edge in Act Two. He is an exceptional Mime nonetheless. Look for him in Karajan's Rheingold, also.

Goodall: Gregory Dempsey isn't emotional enough. He doesn't sound fearful or depressed at all, which makes him the dullest Mime for the Ring.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is for Siegfried, while Christian Vogel is for Rheingold. Vogel is less than perfect, while Schreier is way beyond outstanding. Schreier is less ghoulish and more benevolent, more three-dimensional than Stolze and Wohlfahrt. The only flaw I can find is his handling of "Die stucken! Das Schwert!" He could've added a bit more fear in that sequence.

Levine: Heinz Zednik is yet another excellent mime. He is equal to Schreier when it comes to humaneness and lyricism. His performance in Rheingold Scene Three is pure gold, while his performance in Siegfried (particularly "Willkommen, Siegfried!") is a stunning achievement.

Sawallisch: Helmut Pampuch is just like Schreier and Zednik: he's very VERY good. Nuff said.

-Loge
Solti: Set Svanholm may be the weakest Loge. He is not very ominous throughout all of his scenes, and his lack of a sinister atmosphere is greatly affects the entire Rheingold. But he'll soon be forgotten later on in the Ring.

Bohm: Why the heck would the conductor have Wolfgang Windgassen play both Siegfried AND Loge? The demi-god needs to sound different from a son of a Walsung. Still, it's satisfactory, and his "Ihrem ende eilen sie zu" gives great foreshadowing.

Karajan: Gerhard Stolze is easily the most entertaining Loge to listen to. His scenes in Scene Three are delightful.

Goodall: Emile Belcourt isn't as good as Stolze, but he certainly can make some of the best of an English-speaking Loge.

Janowski: Peter Schreier is the most eccentric out of all of them, and that's a fact. Much of his singing involves imagination, peril, vengeance, and deviousness. Belcourt depends only on imagination and deviousness, Stolze only vengeance and deviousness, and Windgassen only peril. His odd conversations with Alberich and the gods/goddesses are classic.

Levine: Siegfried Jerusalem doesn't seem like a good choice for Loge. He's better off playing Siegmund or Siegfried, but not a demi-god.

Sawallisch: Robert Tear is on par with Stolze and Schreier. Sometimes he takes things too low, but all is forgiven with his management of character development.

-Everyone Else
Uh-huh, what can I say? Everyone else does a good job in all Ring recordings (maybe not in Swarowsky's version). Matti Salminen is the perfect Hagen (Janowski, Levine, and Sawallisch), while Kirsten Flagstad is the most brilliant Fricka (Solti). The Norns and Rheinmaidens do a splendid job in Solti, Janowski, and Levine. The Vassals (male choir) are at their unsurpassed in Bohm and Goodall. The only flawed Erda is Anne Collins (Goodall), maybe too light and too heavy at times. All in all, no one here is graded C or lower.

CONCLUSION: I have yet to listen to Barenboim's Bayreuth presentation and the essential mono recordings (Furtwangler, Krauss), but I'm pretty sure that have their advantages and disadvantages. So there you have it. We have the histrionic Solti, the energetic Bohm, the otherworldly Karajan, the spacious Goodall, the calculated Janowski, the relaxed Levine, and the serious Sawallisch Rings. They have their own authenticities and setbacks, and they certainly have their own significances for Ring listeners everywhere.


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

Karl Bohm: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

Herbert von Karajan: Der Ring des Nibelungen / Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic

Goodall: Wagner: The Ring Cycle (Box Set)
-The Rhinegold (Part 1): Wagner: The Rhinegold
-The Valkyrie (Part 2): Wagner: The Valkyrie
-Siegfried (Part 3): Siegfried (Goodall Ring Cycle/Chandos Opera in English)

Marek Janowski: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen

James Levine: Der Ring Des Nibelungen

Wolfgang Sawllisch: Wagner - Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle) / Sawallisch, Bayerischer Staatsoper

A Miracle!.......2002-09-13

I had long cringed at the thought of this magnificant masterpiece recorded in English. Even after reading several rave reviews on this cylce that I've read by authoritive Wagnerites and critics, I was still skeptical. Finally, I decided to add Goodall's 'Ring' as my third complete cycle (after Solti & Bohm) for one reason: because it was in English and I felt it would enhance my understand of 'The Ring.' In fact, after achieving that "higher understanding" I was planning on selling this set on Ebay. That was, of course, before I heard this magnificant recording.

During the course of my research on 'The Goodall Ring' most of the praised seemed to heighten around 'Siegfried,' which is my absolute favorite of the cycle. That also helped to seal the deal. As the critics said, 'Siegfried' under Goodall is excellent, but not as monumental as Solti's reading, which IMHO is the greatest recording of 'Siegfried.'

The set that stands out, to me, in 'The Goodall Ring' is this recording; The Valkyrie. It is absolutely breathtaking. Not only is it my favorite of this set, it is my favorite Valkyrie recording period (I am very familiar with Boehm's, Solti's, Karajan's, Furthwanglers, Levines, and others). Alberto Remedios (Siegmund here and Siegfried in the last two operas) is truly magnificant. It is the best Siegmund I have heard on disc (and his Siegfried rivals Windgassen). Coupled with Margaret Curphey (Sieglinde), you get the most beautiful and moving duo I have heard on record. The duet in Act I is simply glorious. You also get the bonus of Norman Bailey's triumphant Wotan (and Wanderer too). He has such command and prescene. He sounds like a God. Throw in Rita Hunter, who holds her own as Brunnhilde, Goodall's miraculous conducting, and excellent playing by the orchestra and it all adds up to a stunning recording. Sorry, I had to throw in a plug for 'The Valkyrie.'

'Twilight of the Gods' is no different. Although no recording will measure up to Solti's, IMHO, this recording is one of the best, if not the best (behind Solti) that I have ever heard. It's utterly breathtaking. Alberto Remedios (although not quite as good as he is in the previous two operas) shines a Siegfried. Rita Hunter's Brunnhilde is simply beautiful and this woman can act as well as sing. She really allows you to feel the character's emotions. Aage Haugland is also amazing as Hagen. What a great grasp of the character. I was most concerned about Goodall's spacious conducting, because it's at it's height here. However, I get completely taken over by the power and beauty of his conducting that this set seems to end so quickly after it's begun. He grabs me at the first not in 'Rheingold' and holds me until Hagen's "Give back the Ring!"

I can only say that in a way it's a shame this set is in English. Were it not, I believe Goodall's 'Ring' would be one of the most talked about, popular, and sought after complete recordings of the cycle. I can only say that I am so happy that I finally opened up to opera recorded in a different language than written.

I have fallen completely in love with Goodall's entire cycle. And, I have fallen in love with 'The Ring' all over again.

Great - though not flawless - Performance.......2001-11-08

The question of whether live or studio recordings are preferable is even more important with Wagner's operas, and this one in particular. Live recording have the benefit of that extra spark performers get from an audience though a few imperfections (missed notes, etc.) may exist. This is particularly true of this opera, perhaps the most difficult single work of one of the most difficult opera comppsers.

Why difficult? It's not that the music is hard to listen to (it's not), it's that the length of the opera (5 CDs in this performance) and intensity of the music place great demands on the performers.

The orchestra in particular shows the strain of these demands. While it improves over the course of the performance, there are some wobbly intonation problems in Act I (i.e., the strings are out of tune). The singers, though, perform quite admirably throughout. They are well cast, and handle their roles exceedingly well.

The text is an English translation. If that appeals to you (as it did me) you'll rank this a 5-star recording. If you're a German purist, you'll tend to think it a 4-star recording.

Average customer rating: A superb dish matched by a perfect wine A DIVA - WHAT A VOICE! Authentic Soul of Spain

Me Voy Contigo Remedios Amaya & Vincente Amigo Manufacturer: EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Spain | Continental Europe | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Flamenco | Latin Music | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Del Amanecer Tu, Ven a Mi My Songs and a Poem Flamenco Fiesta Flamenco ASIN: B0000245XL Release Date: 2000-01-31

Tracks:

1. Me Voy Contigo
2. Calle del Olvido
3. Flores Amargas
4. Torre del Viento
5. Amarraita en Tu Pelo
6. Blanca de Sal
7. Dos Torres
8. Turu Turai
9. Tratante de Vara Larga

Customer Reviews:

A superb dish matched by a perfect wine.......2001-05-17

When selecting albums of flamenco singing, it is always important to see who are the singer's accompanists. The same as an "haute cuisine" meal accompanied by an inappropriate wine, a great singer can be diminished by an ill-suited guitarist or lack-luster percussionists.

This album has a wonderful pairing: The powerful, brandy-laced voice of Remedios Amaya, gypsy "por los cuatro lados" but with the modern touch of her generation, paired with the incomparable stylings of Vicente Amigo. Remedios has one of those voices and styles which can grab you in the guts (and elsewhere as well), constantly reminding you of that "something" that makes flamenco what it is and separates it from all imitations.

For his part, Vicente Amigo is one of the post-Paco de Lucía/Manolo Sanlucar "new school" of guitarists who has managed to make an indelible impression with his own, unique style - and, more remarkably, consistently so. Vicente's first appearance was very auspicious: As a teenager, he appeared on a couple of cuts on Manolo Sanlucar's masterpiece, "Tauromagia," one of those "must-have" flamenco albums. Having played with both Manolo Sanlucar and Paco de Lucía definitely shows, but he has absorbed their art and made it his own. He's one of those rare guitarists, like his maestros of the generation before him, whose style is so unique that one knows who's playing after hearing only a few bars. His playing is a very rare combination of subtlety, nuance, and musical sophistication overlaid and informed by a very flamenco, earthy sensibility - like a great, fluffy Persian cat: The fur is soft and silky, but one is constantly reminded that what lies beneath are some very sharp claws and teeth.

For another excellent pairing, check out "Del Amanecer," the album with the incredible singer José Merce and, again, Vicente Amigo, who produced and composed much of the recording.

A DIVA - WHAT A VOICE!.......2000-08-01

It is rare that a singer can recreate a Flamenco Cante that has been sung for a century, and bring something new and delightful to it without compromising the deep feeling associated with the form. Selections 1,2,7,8, and 9 (spacious Tangos and Bulerias)are as good as anything that is being created in music today. No one can "shout" from such depths and keep it so musical! Gracias Remedios!

Authentic Soul of Spain.......2000-06-10

This album is truly exciting. It has all the soul and essence that is Flamenco. All the passion that this dance has to offer can be heard in every song. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Wagner: Götterdämmerung (Highlights); Siegfried Idyll Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music