Satoshi Akima <[log in to unmask]> asks kindly for my opinion:
>Any comments Mats?
Yes, thank you for thinking of me. I do have at least a few opinions.
Here come:
>I notice that the Maazel Berlin 'Ring Ohne Worte' made an appearance
>as a recommendation. I actually do like it. It would make also make a
>great gift and introduction to the Ring. The playing and recording are
>certainly first class
It warmthen my heart when I read these words on Maazels set. I love the
recording myself, and was glad to see you also did still. Especially the
parts of "Siegfried" I find very well done, tracing perfection of balance.
Also check out the purling, lovely floating prelude to "Tristan" by Maazel,
some may call it unidiomatic, but it makes sence to me.
>As for Bruno Walter, when he is at his best his Wagner there is an alarming
>intensity. Just listen to his early mono Vienna Phil Act I 'Die Walkuere',
>which must be one of the most alarmingly incandescent performances of
>Wagner ever recorded.
I agree wholeheartedly this is perhaps the absolutely finest Wagner
recording in the litterature! Say what you want about Walter, but sure he
had a 'special talent' for the late romantic German repertoire, and sure
the sayings about him in obscure biographies that don't referr to any
sources is something alike the Wagner-'pheonomeon' (and hence not much to
take seriously).
Akima in reply to Nick Perowich:
>>CDM 7 63617 2: Rienzi Overture; The Flying Dutchman Overture; Tannhauser
>>Overture; Lohengrin - Preludes to Acts 1 and 3; Tristan and Isolde -
>>Prelude and Liebestod.
>>
>>CDM 7 63618 2: The Mastersingers of Nurenberg - Overture, Dance of the
>>Apprentices and Entry of the Masters; Das Rheingold - Entry of the Gods
>>into Valhalla; Die Walkure - The Ride of the Valkyries; Siegfried - Forest
>>Murmurs; Goetterdaemmerung - Siegfried's Rhine Journey, Siegfried's Funeral
>>March; Parsifal - Prelude.
>
>Again if forced to pick I would go for the second of these two volumes.
For some coinsidence I would that too. It could be a little unfair to
compare them as many would argue that the second of these two volumes
contain the more masterful works, but to try to argue only in matters of
recorded and playing quality, I would choose that one still. The Rienzi
Ouverture I think, stands out in the first, but I was actually not proud of
the 1 & 3 Akte to "Lohengrin" and the "Tristan", which also is in somewhat
blurred sound despite the modern Transfer. I haven't heard this volume 2
itself, only the original sets, and therefore I admit I cannot comment upon
everthing, like "Parsifal". But to sum the judgement up; I do am sure that
"Die Walkuere" will be a very very fine performance, concerning what
Klemperer can do with other parts of the Ring, and "Die Walkuere" is a
wonderful work.
>I agree that Furtwaengler is wonderful
Yes, Satoshi, and Furtwaengler is sure a special matter for You, as you are
about to buy his whole Ringcycle from the 50ies. The performance is very
fine, with more emphasis on the emotionallity than dramatics, (and thereby
the antidote to Solti). I have warned you for the recorded sound and a few
other things, but you seems to insist that you want it anyway. So, go
ahead and buy it now! There are some 950+ people on the list who surely
read their posts, so you can't come afterwards and say I haven't warned
you.:-)
Mats Norrman
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