Not sure I needed to plunk for the full Wagner Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle, this Georg Solti (and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra) collection of orchestral excerpts from the great scenes was quite cheap, and it scratched my immediate itch to hear Wagner.
I’m not even an opera fan, but there’s no doubting the sincerity in the music. These renditions are wonderful. There’s a clarity to it all, and it’s incredibly powerful. Dammit, now I’m going to need the full thing.
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I have a couple of (Sir) Georg Solti-conducted orchestral recordings, and I have at least one Wagner CD (always one of my favorites, since I prefer German opera over Italian opera), but not a combination of the two. This seems like a good one. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Hi Rich! Yeah, this Solti Wagner is quite good. If I saw any of his other stuff I’d grab it up no problem.
Opera is not something with which I’m not much conversant. What do you like in German opera over Italian? The music, the stories? Both? Something else?
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My minor in college was Music and I took a lot of classes on classical music. For some reason I responded more to German opera (Wagner & Weber were my favorites). I guess it appealed to the prog fan in me, whereas Italian opera tended to be sweeter & more romantic. I’ve come around to Italian opera more as I got older but it’ll never have the same impact on me as the German composers. Then there’s French composer Berlioz, who wrote one of my favorite classic pieces: Symphonie Fantastique. I also prefer the musical portions of most operas, while opera singing gets old very quickly for me.
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Great answer, Rich, thanks! Agreed on the Berlioz… I had a higlights disc of his stuff years ago, I know the Fantastique was on it. Sadly it isn’t here now. Time to replace!
I hadn’t considered opera analagous to prog! haha. I don’t tend to think of opera as sweet and romantic – the singing usually puts me off in large doses (I could survive this 1CD collection just fine, but a full Der Ring in one sitting? Nope!). But I fully agree on the musical part being better. Very epic and grand.
This is one area in which I know I am severely lacking. I’ll want more (like the Wagner), but I’ll be treading lightly and not going headlong into it!
What are your thoughts on Pavarotti?
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Pavarotti was a master. I don’t listen to opera singing very often but it’s hard not to be blown away anytime I hear his voice.
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Awesome, thanks for this! On impulse, I snagged a 2LP Best Of Pavarotti (in perfect nick) at work one time for $1, and was even then still leery of playing it… with your recommend, I think I can venture into it with more confidence. 🙂
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This reminded me that I need some Wagner.
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you’re welcome! Will you get a hits? Or full recordings of his works?
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Just a collection to start I think!
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Well, this is a good one of the Ring. I don’t have any of his other stuff here. My eyes are peeled at work!
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It is heavy metal classical.
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It is indeed! Definitely stirring, not unlike Beethoven in that it makes me wanna get up and DO STUFF!
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Charlie Don’t Surf! etc etc
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More like Beavis, arms clenched, going “yeah! yeah! YEAHHHHH!”
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