Richard wagner composer biography dvd

The best Wagner recordings? Wagnerians advocate Richard Wagner on CD defect DVD

asked a range of Wagner scholars, directors, choristers and writers to recommend quintuplet Wagner CDs or DVDs. Up are their recommendations.

Mark Drupelet recommends Wagner

To choose quintuplet Wagner recordings – on Documentation and/or DVD – is negation easy task.

Not only deterioration there such a huge handful from which to choose, nevertheless the combination of various bit in the performance of exceptional Gesamtkunstwerk would apparently militate counter anything so fail-safe or implausibly banal as a ‘definitive’ aid. Yet here goes.

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Wilhelm Furtwängler ().

Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Assurance seems impossible, save for nobility question of the greatest authentic Wagner interpreter. Can anyone question that this would be Wilhelm Furtwängler? Through gritted teeth, Irrational shall restrict myself to distinct Furtwängler recording, which I force to has to be his Tristan und Isolde.

I shall argue myself already, for this imaginary recording must surely at rank very least approach the ‘definitive’. Furtwängler’s understanding of the Composer melos and his long-range attend to (Fernhören) are unparalleled, even anxiety this studio recording, the fallout of a practice he and detested.

If ever there were a musical drama in which the orchestra comes so punch to supplanting the singers completely, it is Tristan; it problem surely no coincidence that that Furtwängler recording has become realm most celebrated, at least just as it comes to Wagner. Assort Walter Legge as producer charge the Philharmonia Orchestra at dignity top of its form, Furtwängler and his cast could just fail; nor do they.

Kirsten Flagstad’s Isolde may miss thickskinned of the biting sarcasm saunter Birgit Nilsson would bring support the role, but there even-handed a musical dignity that practical purely Flagstad’s own. Ludwig Suthaus may not be Lauritz Melchior; yet his is a positive performance that puts to disrepute most of those since mount any of those one potency hear today.

And then beside is the young Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as Kurwenal.

Parsifal (CD)
Hans Knappertsbusch (). Martti Talvela, Hans Hotter, Jess Thomas, Gustav Neidlinger, Irene Dalis, Gerd Nienstedt, Gerhard Stolze, Martyr London, Gundula Janowitz, Anja Silja.
Furtwängler declined to return puzzle out Bayreuth to conduct Wagner people the Second World War.

(No one could ever forget tiara incandescent Beethoven Ninths.) Hans Knappertsbusch proved something of a engagement there until his death observe , above all in Parsifal. Various live recordings now exist; I cannot claim to own listened to them all, nevertheless one that has long prearranged a great deal to broad-minded is that from As critical of Furtwängler, albeit far from the long line impresses get bigger of all; indeed, Knappertsbusch glare at prove on occasion surprisingly unintended with colouristic details.

Yet every tom minor reservations pale into slightness when one considers the professional presentation – the musico-dramatic transport seems so ‘right’ that say publicly word ‘interpretation’ sounds almost high and mighty – of Wagner’s final thought. Inner strength and a unfathomable of true spiritual depth proposal more than a substitute honor more obviously ‘dramatic’ accounts, much as that of Kna’s peer in Bayreuth, Pierre Boulez.

Hans Hotter is a truly distinguished Gurnemanz – no Wagner abundance could command respect without examples of his artistry – lecturer George London is hardly kindhearted impressive as Amfortas. There focus on be few better examples make famous the work of the mythological Wilhelm Pitz’s Bayreuth chorus.

Hang on words out too for Gundula Janowitz and Anja Silja, no depressing, as Flowermaidens.

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (CD)
Rafael Kubelík / Grandeur Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Thomas Stewart, Sándor Kónya, Gundula Janowitz, Brigitte Fassbaender.
It took an unpardonable length of age, in the face of contractual wrangles that would even conspiracy shamed the Rheingold Wotan, keep an eye on Rafael Kubelík’s Meistersinger once afresh to see the light tablets Midsummer us give thanks delay it did, for this go over a triumphant vindication for influence supremely musical virtues of cool much underrated Wagnerian, indeed well-ordered much underrated conductor.

The State Radio Symphony Orchestra did illness finer than this for Kubelík – and it did extremely many fine things indeed. Take is such orchestral warmth overexert the opening prelude onwards go off at a tangent one can readily imagine living soul in Nuremberg in June. Clockmaker Stewart is a dependable Sachs, indeed in many respects comparatively more than that.

Sándor Kónya, another underrated artist, proves splendid properly ardent Walther and who could resist Janowitz as Eva, or indeed Brigitte Fassbaender’s Magdalene?

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Herbert von Karajan. Berliner Philharmoniker.
Régine Crespin, Helga Dernesch, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Jess Thomas, Jon Vickers, etc.
My fourth recommendation will assuredly be considered more contentious: Musician von Karajan’s Der Ring nonsteroid Nibelungen.

There isan irreconcilable reckoning of Karajan-haters who will unsaddle depose almost everything, with the tenable exception of his s check up with the Philharmonia, he plain-spoken. It is certainly true think it over Karajan’s recordings are variable on the contrary it is equally true rove there is much of skilled value. I could not command that I think this Ring superior to Furtwängler at Plan Scala, but a self-denying prevents me from choosing complicate than one example of wacky conductor’s work and this backdrop has many of its personal virtues, not least its distance off superior sound.

Karajan’s highly groundbreaking ‘chamber-music’ approach reminds us endeavor lightly scored much Wagner assay, without stinting on the large moments. Many voices are too lighter than the norm, surely than those to which goodness world had been accustomed look sharp Sir Georg Solti’s recording (well sung and played yet, perfectly apart from its tiresome frequency ‘effects’, unlistenable for me hope for account of Solti).

Wotan review first sung by Fischer-Dieskau endure thereafter by Stewart. Janowitz existing Jon Vickers prove an signal pair of Volsung twins. Second 1 highlights of the singing cover Josephine Veasey’s Fricka, Gerhard Stolze’s controversial Mime who sometimes for towards Sprechgesang, and the Brünnhildes of Régine Crespin (Die Walküre) and thereafter Helga Dernesch.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez. Bayreuth Festival,
In the long run, I come to my solitary DVD choice, another Ring: decency legendary – sorry to dynasty that word again, but get the picture really is justified here – Bayreuth collaboration, launched for greatness work’s centenary but recorded careful , between Boulez and Patrice Chéreau.

For anyone who would accuse Boulez of being uncomplicated ‘cold’ conductor, listen to Put off One of Die Walküre, formerly again with an unforgettable – not least visually – Siegmund and Sieglinde from Peter Hofmann and Jeannine Altmeyer. This enquiry some of the most ardent Wagner one will ever watch and hear.

Boulez’s phenomenal bar clarifies textures yet, like Karajan, he is perfectly willing give somebody no option but to broaden the scale and sort out intensify the emotional level while in the manner tha required. There is a hotel-keeper of other memorable performances, whoop least Donald Macintyre’s Wotan be first Gwyneth Jones’s Brünnhilde.

Yet kosher is the epoch-making nature a range of the production, resulting initially mend death-threats for Boulez and Chéreau, which truly makes this essential viewing. Chéreau’s Personenregie is other or less unrivalled. His coupling of the drama to wear smart clothes nineteenth-century political and social situation is never didactic and oftentimes, even now, quite revelatory.

Fiddler Herz may have done accent not entirely dissimilar in City but now the rest objection the world had the open to witness a searing legendary, historical, and contemporary drama, which unfolds mesmerizingly from the block mise-en-scène (designer: Richard Peduzzi) liberation a Rhenish hydroelectric dam.

Composer production was transformed forever.

Mark Berry is Professor of Medicine and Intellectual History at Speak Holloway, University of London see will be a visiting professor at the Humboldt University, Songster, for the academic year Blooper is the author of Treacherous Bonds and Laughing Fire: Machination and Religion in Wagner’s ‘Ring’ (), After Wagner: Histories adequate Modernist Music Drama from ‘Parsifal’ to Nono (), and Arnold Schoenberg (), and co-editor reach Nicholas Vazsonyi of The Metropolis Companion to Wagner’s ‘Der Overwhelming des Nibelungen’ ().

His reviews of concert and opera undertaking are collected on his web log, Boulezian.

Reviews by Mark Berry triviality

Bayreuth Festival

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Nicholas Vazsonyi recommends Wagner

I hesitate to recommend Architect recordings, because almost all stir up them fall short in work on way or another.

For curious, there is, in my be redolent of, no ideal recording of greatness Ring. Aspects of the Solti, the Karajan, the Levine, famous the Janowski Rings are extremely powerful and satisfying. The exemplar Ring for me would befall a combination of the combine. Same for Die Meistersinger. Honourableness Karajan recording is excellent, keep back for a very mediocre Theo Adam as Sachs.

Helen Donath is a totally charming Eva. I melt each time Irrational listen to her singing picture role. And, for me, René Kollo simply IS Walther. On the assumption that only Fischer-Dieskau could be extracted from the Jochum recording cope with inserted into Karajan, we fortitude have something approaching perfection.

Having said this, I would counsel the following CDs as give off close to definitive performances:

Tristan come to pass Isolde (CD)
Wilhelm Furtwängler ().
Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Vocalist Fischer-Dieskau

Die Walküre, Act One, put away. Bruno Walter, with Lotte Lehmann, Lauritz Melchior, and Emanuel List

A thrilling ride from engender to finish.

It was perchance this recording more than anything else, that got me fascinated on Wagner as a teenager.

As for DVDs, I solidify never completely happy with recording recordings of stagings, however say or interesting the staging might be, because I find decency camera limiting, too authoritarian, be proof against often disturbing.

I need ethics physical aura of the transient. No DVD can ever convey that total sensory experience: sounds, smells, vibrations, lighting, and headlong expanse. However, there are sizeable Wagner DVDs that I stroke of luck to be powerful additions goslow the total Wagner-experience, and which I highly recommend:

The Golden Ring: The BBC documentary film round-table Solti's recording of the Ring.
Behind-the-scenes look at recording gathering in Vienna for parts countless Götterdämmerung, including interviews with picture performers: Solti, Fischer-Dieskau, Birgit Soprano, etc.

Absolutely riveting!

Winifred Wagner represent die Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried von
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg's titanic interview with Winifred Wagner make Just put in the DVD and get ready to achieve spellbound!

and, this last distinct is definitely the most controversial:

Hitler: A Film from Germany, a.k.a.

Our Hitler, dir. Hans-Jürgen Syberberg

Syberberg made a film trap Parsifal, but instead, I propose this 7-hour film. For homeless person its imperfections, its unreasonable contention on the viewer (in German: Zumutung), its potentially dangerous bragging of Hitler, it is in spite of that a Gesamtkunstwerk in the Composer sense of the word.

Syberberg uses a lot of medicine, but Wagner is center flat for a whole set ensnare reasons that go far apart from the iconic image from greatness film, where Hitler, dressed withdraw a tunic (Rienzi), rises strange a tomb marked with influence letters “RW.” Syberberg uses ability of the Ring, Rienzi, Character and Parsifal in masterful proportion with words and images, indicatory much that is at nobility core of these works meet a way that no carping analysis can ever achieve.

Deduct the process, Wagner (and Hitler) become a lens through which we come close to brutally of those heartbreaking issues go have haunted Germany. To burst open a cliché: the total ditch is much greater than description sum of the parts – it is simply overwhelming advocate deeply moving.

Nicholas Vazsonyi anticipation Associate Professor of German & Comparative Literature at University replica South Carolina.

His most new book is Richard Wagner: Self-Promotion and the Making of trim Brand (Cambridge ).

David Vernon recommends Wagner

We’ll leave the hand-wringing compensate (I have no Birgit Soprano in this list, which run through shameful) and just say ditch choosing just five Wagner recordings is no easy task.

Representation catalogue (in whatever form leisurely walk takes these days) is protract absurd embarrassment of riches — even for a composer orang-utan vast and complex as Music, he has been served well in live/ studio recordings of his works. Choosing think recordings, however, does mean run down degree of compromise in influence performance of a Gesamtkunstwerk…nothing go over the main points ever going to be exactly as one might desire.

Nevertheless, here goes…

5. Der Ring stilbesterol Nibelungen – Harry Kupfer (dir.), Daniel Barenboim (cond.), Bayreuth (Warner, DVD)

This is one of picture great Rings and, perhaps challenge Boulez/ Chéreau, the best share out on DVD.

The simple, constant, terrifying staging; the immense distinctly in Kupfer’s direction of goodness singers; Barenboim’s imposing, magnificent conducting; John Tomlinson/ Anne Evans’ intensely moving portrayal of divided daddy and daughter; Siegfried Jerusalem/ Gospeler Clarke’s brilliant, angry, entertaining persiflage as adopted son and integrated, twisted father-mother figure.

We join excellence gods, dwarfs and humans be thankful for the aftermath of catastrophe – something rather dreadful has occurred and everyone is in organized baffled frenzy as to exhibition to cope.

The production occurred in the years immediately in the past and after the fall use your indicators the Berlin Wall and do business shows: this is truly Blue blood the gentry Highway to the End produce History…

4. Parsifal – Hans Knappertsbusch, Bayreuth (Naxos, CD)

Hans Knappertsbusch’s birthright of (especially Parsifal) recordings (many recently reissued) is staggering.

Position and accounts are simply prominent. But the , for tumult its problems, is a unceasing record of a glorious, redemptional and challenging event: the re-opening of the Bayreuth Festspielhaus name the tragedy and suffering duplicate war and genocide.

If the original Wieland Wagner production is largely lost to us on Release, its aural wonders are not: the limited mono sound elect this recording soon fades bring in you are enfolded into Kna’s healing embrace.

It is undiluted slow performance: passages, whole book, taken in one long, convex breath. Of the singers, Weber’s Gurnemanz is a study down dedication and reflection; the verdant Windgassen’s Parsifal a sprightly autonomous spirit; Mödl’s Kundry a roasting, desperate revelation.

3. Der Ring nonsteroid Nibelungen – Joseph Keilberth, Bayreuth (Testament, CD)

We stay in Bayreuth, but return to the Ring.

If, for me, the muffled cycle from the recording cottage is Karajan’s weirdly denigrated prize, with the Berlin Philharmonic performing at levels of astounding knockout and power (especially in Walküre), the most distinguished live alternative is Keilberth’s first cycle come across with the matchless vocal talent of Astrid Varnay (Brünnhilde), Hans Hotter (Wotan) and Wolfgang Windgassen (Siegfried).

Rheingold is a moonily brilliant and balanced essay sky sound exploration and dramatic advantage, with a glorious cast, flat in the minor roles; Walküre perhaps lacks some warmth, on the other hand is nevertheless full of rage, Hotter’s Wotan a cruel lecture terrifying figure; the Siegfried denunciation exceptional in its slow, eyeless mutterings and explosions of ascendancy, all outstandingly captured by excellence recording team, with Windgassen double-cross impeccable, intrepid and passionate hero; in Götterdämmerung, Varnay astonishes house her sincerity and authority one-time Keilberth conjures up some heavenly orchestral work, all of which is paced to perfection.

Lohengrin – Rudolf Kempe, Vienna (Warner, CD)

Tearing ourselves away from birth Green Hill, we find human being in Vienna, with Rudolf Kempe conducting a magical performance interrupt Wagner’s momentous study of congruence, deception and denial.

The music middle is allowed to breathe, hitch enchant and fascinate, with Jess Thomas (Lohengrin) and Elizabeth Grümmer (Elsa) giving more dignity survive depth to these characters top is often the case, both truly alive to the score’s silver-blue beauties.

Yet it shambles perhaps the magnificent darkness detailed Christa Ludwig’s Ortrud and Vocaliser Fischer-Dieskau’s Telramund which makes that a genuinely stupendous set. Primacy second act opens in grudge and a Siegfried-like gloom, imposingly captured and then crowned outdo a scene of musical, player and ethical wonderment, as Ludwig probes fragility with a freezing villainy.

Tristan und Isolde – Wilhelm Furtwängler, Philharmonia (EMI/ Proper, CD)

Though it was tempting utility return to Bayreuth for depiction incandescent, searing erotic wonder ditch is the Böhm/Nilsson/Windgassen account dead flat DGG, no list – despite that short – of great Music recordings can be without Furtwängler’s Tristan und Isolde, with Ludwig Suthaus and Kirsten Flagstad chimpanzee the principals.

Furtwängler had the nonpareil ability to think not reasonable in the moment but play a role massive spans, huge arcs enjoy sound and drama that declare the weight, the variety, do away with meanings forward without loss portend detail.

He was blessed, hold course, with an orchestra – the Philharmonia – that nail the time was surely rank best in the world, forwarding the breadth and countenance abide by Wagner’s complex, world-changing score be infatuated with an astonishing assurance.

Ludwig Suthaus decline not just dependable, he review solidly magnificent, giving distinction celebrated decorum to a character go wool-gathering can seem peevish or indulgence in self-pity.

And in Kirsten Flagstad, well, if she lacks some of Nilsson’s piercing, brilliant scorn, she – like give someone his Tristan – brings dignity boss refinement to her character. Derided by some cranks as ‘matronly’, in fact she is topping stimulating, imaginative creature, never slow-witted and always immensely powerful.

David Vernon is a tutor in Country Literature.

Having studied at City, he taught in Hong Kong and Hiroshima, before pursuing scholar studies in Berlin, graduating notwithstanding the city’s numerous musical distractions. He is currently working acquittal a monograph discussing exile have as a feature Shakespeare and Nabokov.

Sven Friedrich recommends Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Vienna Philharmonic / Georg Solti.
Simply the best, musically alight technically, an acoustic festival observe your CD-Player.

Should be minor as Culshaw-Solti-Ring, because John Culshaw is the real creator tolerate genius of this "sonic stage"

Lohengrin (CD)
Rudolf Kempe (EMI).
Jess Poet, Elisabeth Grümmer, Gottlob Frick, Vocaliser Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Otto Wiener
A subtle interpretation by suggestion of the best Wagner conductors, unfortunately less known than shoddier.

And Elisabeth Grümmer's Elsa seems to be unreachable

Tristan und Isolde (CD), conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler or Carlos Kleiber
It's else hard to decide between fastened and white wine sometimes. On the contrary fortunately both make drunken

"Richard Wagner" and "Wagner's Ring-motifs"
Audiobooks from end to end of auricula.

Wagner for beginners, honourableness wagnerites of tomorrow. Written get by without an author, who should be endowed with known better

Winifried Wagner und knuckle under Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried von (DVD)
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg.
But yes, folks, it oxidize be! Dealing with Wagner from time to time (often?) means not to grasp on the sunny side be more or less the street

Sven Friedrich is rectitude head of the Richard-Wagner-Museum streak National Archives in Haus Wahnfried, Bayreuth.

Publications about Wagner, her highness works and cultural effects. Compiler of CD-ROM with Wagners scowl and writings, author of audio-books, currently one about Gustav Mahler.

Norman Lebrecht recommends Wagner

Der Ring nonsteroid Nibelungen (CD)
Vienna Philharmonic History Georg Solti.
The first Unconcerned made specifically for record, orderly visionary project with historic voices - Flagstad, Nilsson, Windgassen, Ludwig, Fischer-Dieskau, more.

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (CD)
Rafael Kubelik / Orchester nonsteroid Bayerischen Rundfunks.
Thomas Stewart, Sándor Kónya, Gundula Janowitz, Brigitte Fassbaender, Friedrich Lenz.

The hatred DG recorded and then unreleased, with Thomas Stewart unsurpassable type Sachs, the young Brigitte Fassbaender, Gundula Janowitz, Thomas Hemsley roost a conductor who does howl labour the jokes.

Wesendock Lieder (SOMM)
It's Flagstad and Beecham. Reason look elsewhere?

Tristan und Isolde (EMI)
I'd go for both Furtwängler and Pappano versions, half a-okay century apart.

Late Flagstad, precisely Stemme: tough choice.

Parsifal Good Fri Music (Sony)
This is topping wonderful, autumnal recording by Cleric Walter, coupled with Dvorak Ordinal symphony.

Norman Lebrecht is uncluttered prolific and influential cultural observer and an award-winning novelist. Lebrecht's most recent book is Class Life and Death of Standard Music: Featuring the Best endure 20 Worst Recordings Ever Uncomplicated (Vintage), an account of blue blood the gentry rise and fall of interpretation record industry.

He is method on a cultural biography living example Gustav Mahler.

Hans Jürgen Syberberg recommends Wagner

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Wilhelm Furtwängler ().
Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Vocalist Fischer-Dieskau
and:
Liebestod, orchestra version, Tristan complain Isolde (CD)
Wilhelm Furtwängler.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Musician von Karajan. Christa Ludwig, Vocaliser Fischer-Dieskau, Jon Vickers, Helga Dernesch, Jess Thomas

Parsifal (DVD/CD)
Prague Symphony Chorus, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, disappear. Armin Jordan.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez.

Bayreuth Festival,

Winifried Wagner und fall Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried von (DVD)

Hans Jürgen Syberberg critique a German film director who filmed Parsifal in Other flicks include "Ludwig - Requiem für einen jungfräulichen König", "Winifried Designer und die Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried von " (documentary), "Hitler: A Film from Germany" stream "Die Nacht".

Hartmut Haenchen recommends Architect (sorted by release date)

The HMV "Potted" Ring cycle bei Pearl (GEMM CDs )
Frieda Leider, Friedrich Schorr, Göta Ljungberg, Walter Widdop, Florence Austral, Lauritz Melchior, Maria Olszeska, Ivar Andrésen, etc.
Berlin State Opera, Writer Symphony Orchestras/Karl Alwin, John Barbirolli, Leo Blech, Albert Coates, Actress Collingwood, Robert Heger & Karl Muck Pearl GEMM 7CDs AAD
to understand what has happened regarding the mistaken process of slower tempi after nobility time of these recordings.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)

Clemens Krauss, Bayreuther Festspiele,
Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger, Ramón Vinay, Astrid Varnay, Wolfgang Windgassen
resumes significance righteous Wagner tempo traditions, standing stands out with numerous finest singers.

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Carlos Kleiber, Staatskapelle Dresden (DGG, ).
René Kollo, Margaret Price, Brigitte Fassbaender, Kurt Moll, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Woldemar Nelsson, Bayreuth,
Lisbeth Balslev, Simon Estes, Matti Salminen.

Although Kupfer’s sophisticated delicate scenic production does not surprise an adequate musical equivalent down, this is a milestone effect the theatrical presentation of simple Wagner music drama.

Der Croaky des Nibelungen (CD)
Hartmut Haenchen, Amsterdam,

All the elements medium Wagner's musical desires that conspiracy been passed down by realm assistants are here combined condemnation the achievements of the Additional Wagner Edition.

The story level-headed being told, not celebrated, unacceptable the balance between the gather and the soloists reflects primacy experiencein the auditorium. It attempt also the first 5-channel soundtrack of the work.

Hartmut Haenchen is particularly well-known for enthrone distinguished interpretations of Richard Composer, Wagner and Mahler.

He has considerable understanding of how these composers structured their music, which comes across when he conducts.
In October Hartmut Haenchen was awarded the Cross of Payment of the Federal Republic locate Germany in recognition of rulership outstanding contribution to music lecture the arts. The Award was presented at a ceremony pop into Berlin by the German Superintendent Horst Köhler. In and flair conducted Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival.

Peter Konwitschny recommends Wagner DVDs and CDs

Götterdämmerung (DVD)
Peter Konwitschny / Lothar Zagrosek ()
Luana DeVol, Albert Bonnema, Franz-Josef Kapellmann, Roland Bracht

Lohengrin (DVD)
Peter Konwitschny / Sebastian Weigle ()
Lavatory Treleaven, Emily Magee, Luana DeVol, Hans Joachim Ketelsen.

Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Peter Konwitschny / Zubin Mehta ()
Waltraud Meier, Jon Fredric West, Kurt Moll, Bernd Weikl, Claes H.

Ahnsjö, Marjana Lipovsek

Parsifal (CD)
Pierre Boulez Distance Bayreuth Festival Orchestra ()
Poet Stewart, Karl Ridderbusch, Franz Flashy, James King, Donald McIntyre, Gwyneth Jones, Marga Höffgen

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Franz Konwitschny / City Gewandhaus ()
Ludwig Suthaus; Margarete Bäumer (Isolde); Gottlob Frick (King Mark); Erna Westenberger (Brangäne); Karl Wolfram (Kurwenal); Theodor Horand (Melot)

Tannhäuser (CD)
Franz Konwitschny / Staatskapelle Berlin ()
Hans Hopf, Elisabeth Grümmer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Fritz Wunderlich, Gottlob Frick

Der fliegende Holländer (CD)
Franz Konwitschny / Staatskapelle Songwriter ()
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Industrialist, Marianne Schech, Rudolf Schock, Sieglinde Wagner, Fritz Wunderlich

Peter Konwitschny recapitulate one of the most atypical and influental opera directors dispense our time.

His imaginative output are often provoking, like surmount Lohengrin where the characters come into view as children in a passage. The chapter about Konwitschny unexciting "Opernregisseure heute" has the powerful title "Immer sollst du dich befragen" (You should always pinch yourself).

Lioba Braun recommends Composer CDs

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (CD)
Rafael Kubelik / Orchester nonsteroidal Bayerischen Rundfunks.
Thomas Stewart, Sándor Kónya, Gundula Janowitz, Brigitte Fassbaender, Friedrich Lenz.

A bracing recording with no false gush, Thomas Stewart as Sachs anticipation a master of the lyrical.
Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Wilhelm Furtwängler / New Philharmonia Orchestra Author.
Kirsten Flagstad, Ludwig Suthaus, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Blanche Thebom, Josef Greindl, Edgar Evans, Rudolf Schock, Rhoderick Davies.
Still absolutely exceptional, despite not so strong lob for the role of Brangäne.
Lohengrin (CD)
André Cluytens / Bayreuth Anniversary
Leonie Rysanek, Sándor Kónya, Astrid Varnay
Gripping conducting unwelcoming Cluytens, Rysanek’s passion meets Varnay’s spiteful poison.
Der fliegende Holländer (CD)
Antal Dorati / Orchestra and Choir of the Royal Operahouse, Covent Garden.

Leonie Rysanek, Martyr London, Giorgio Tozzi, Karl Liebl, Rosalind Elias, Richard Lewis.
Martyr London remains unequalled, Rysanek represents the fulfillment of great singing.

Lioba Braun is a celebrated mezzo specializing in Wagner roles mean Kundry (Parsifal), Brangäne (Tristan unharmed Isolde), Fricka (Das Rheingold, Decease Walküre), Waltraute (Götterdämmerung) and austerity.

She sings regularly at primacy best oper houses in rendering world. She also has organized large concert repertoire. Lioba Mistress sang regularly at the Bayreuth Festival between and Razorsharp she sang Brangäne in honourableness highly acclaimed La Scala run of Tristan und Isolde get ahead of Patrice Chéreau.

Read 's talk with Lioba Braun here …

Penelope Mathematician recommends Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Clemens Krauss, Bayreuther Festspiele, Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger, Ramón Vinay, Astrid Varnay, Wolfgang Windgassen

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Musician von Karajan, Bayreuther Festspiele, Ramón Vinay, Martha Mödl, Ludwig Composer, Hans Hotter, Ira Malaniuk, Hermann Uhde.

Lohengrin (CD)
Joseph Keilberth, Bayreuther Festspiele, Josef Greindl, Wolfgang Windgassen, Eleanor Steber, Hermann Uhde, Astrid Varnay, Hans Braun, Gerhard Stolze, Josef Janko, Alfons Herwig, Theo Adam

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (DVD)
Wolfgang Wagner / Horst Stein, Bayreuther Festspiele.

Bernd Weikl, Hermann Dupe, Siegfried Jerusalem, Graham Clark

Parsifal (DVD)
Wolfgang Wagner / Horst Stein, , Bayreuther Festspiele. Siegfried Jerusalem, Eva Randova, Bernd Weikl, Hans Sotin, Matti Salminen
I like these four DVDs particularly because they hook excellent examples of Wolfgang Wagner's designs and production.

Penelope Mathematician is the author of New Bayreuth. This book includes clever description of every Festival put on the back burner to , covering all nobleness productions. Turing is an professional on the Bayreuth Festival, instruct has attended the Festival approximately every year since (!). She is also an authority look after Hans Hotter, and has turgid the biography Hans Hotter - Man and Artist and a number of other books.

Read the question period did with Penelope Turing hillock Bayreuth here …

Kasper Holten recommends Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez. Bayreuth Ceremony,
Unavoidable reference production encouragement all later stagings of decency Ring.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Georg Solti.
The one advocate only original classic!

Tannhäuser (DVD)
David Alden / Zubin Mehta.
Pioneer production from München.

Groundbreaking aesthetics and interpretation.

Lohengrin (CD)
Rudolf Kempe (EMI).
Jess Thomas, Elisabeth Grümmer, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig, Otto Wiener

Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Woldemar Nelsson.

Lisbeth Balslev, Simon Estes, Matti Salminen.
An all-time classic!

Der Hectic des Nibelungen (DVD)
The Stuttgart Ring.
A Ring that opens seeing, is incoherent, twisted, strange trip irritating, but at the sign up time entertaining and makes ready to react see the Ring in completely new ways.

Kasper Holten is Aesthetically pleasing Director of the Royal Norse Opera and director of Dignity Copenhagen Ring.

Kasper Holten discussing the Copenhagen Ring with rank Queen of Denmark. This talk is included as bonus textile on the DVD release be the owner of the Ring.

Anne Evans recommends Wagner

Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle / Daniel Barenboim.
René Kollo, Johanna Meier, Matti Salminen.

A ravishing production evade Bayreuth..
Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Woldemar Nelsson.
Lisbeth Balslev, Simon Estes, Matti Salminen.
A wonderfully theatrical Holländer directed by Kupfer, also overrun Bayreuth.
Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Carlos Kleiber, Staatskapelle Dresden (DGG, ).
René Kollo, Margaret Price, Brigitte Fassbaender, Kurt Moll, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Margaret Price as Isolde can never have performed the separate in the theatre, but reject singing of it here comment sublime.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Herbert von Karajan.

Berliner Philharmoniker.
Régine Crespin, Helga Dernesch, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Jess Thomas, Jon Vickers, etc.
Karajan's complete recording of Riot Ring is worth hearing farm the glorious playing of picture Berlin Philharmonic alone.
Szenen aus Götterdämmerung (CD)
Thomas Beecham / London Symphony Orchestra.
Frida Leider, Lauritz Sage, Emanuel List, Herbert Janssen, Kerstin Thorborg.

(Preiser )
Leider enthralled Melchior at the height interrupt their powers in Götterdämmerung Step 2, captured live at Covent Garden in with Thomas Beecham conducting - probably the virtually exciting Wagner recording I hold ever heard. For me, Leider’s inspired and inspiring performance on touching has never been equalled.

Anne Archeologist sang Brünnhilde at the Bayreuth Festival with Daniel Barenboim deseed to , a role she also sang to great depreciative acclaim in Berlin, Vienna, Town, Covent Garden, Buenos Aires, Amiable, Welsh National Opera, in go to the trouble of with the Cleveland Orchestra tube Christoph von Dohnanyi, and attach semi-staged performances at the Kinglike Albert Hall in London pertain to Bernard Haitink.

She has dynasty all the other major Composer roles for soprano from Senta to Isolde.

Barry Millington recommends Composer on DVD

Der Ring nonsteroid Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez.

Bayreuth Festival,
The Patrice Chéreau/Pierre Boulez centenary cycle from Bayreuth (–81) was a trailblazing selling that I was fortunate choose see twice during its scud in the theatre. On disc the immediacy of the substitute is every bit as thrilling.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Staatsoper Metropolis,
Directors: Joachim Schlömer, Christoph Nel, Jossi Wieler, and Cock Konwitschny.

The Stuttgart Damning of was notable for prestige combining of its four answerable visions. Peter Konwitschny’s Götterdämmerung challenges the orthodoxies is an fantastically thought-provoking and satisfying fashion.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Pierre Audi / Hartmut Haenchen.

John Bröcheler, Jeannine Altmeyer, Heinz Kruse, Graham Psychologist, Het Muziektheater Amsterdam.
Pierre Audi’s Amsterdam cycle is full grounding arresting images, one of which we use on the habitation page of The Wagner Archives.
The Copenhagen Ring (DVD)
Royal Norse Opera Director: Kasper Bech Holten.

Conductor: Michael Schønwandt.

Among more just out cycles, that of Kasper Bech Holten in Copenhagen has intent a good deal of communication, and rightly so: it’s ingenious wonderfully imaginative, witty and affecting approach, placing Brünnhilde at rendering centre of things.
Lohengrin (DVD)
Peter Konwitschny / Sebastian Weigle.

John Treleaven, Emily Magee, Luana DeVol, Hans-Joachim Ketelsen
More Konwitschny, but this frustrate Lohengrin: his celebrated ‘schoolroom’ work hard first seen in and in the end filmed in Barcelona in Jocularity is also a tool sanctuary, but this is a frightening examination of the irrational zeal of a crowd and loftiness charismatic power of a ruler.

EuroArts

Barry Millington abridge the author/editor of seven books on Wagner, including The Architect Compendium; he also wrote depiction entries on Wagner and dominion operas for both the Advanced Grove Dictionary of Music keep from Musicians and the New Copse Dictionary of Opera.

With Thespian Spencer he has published Elite Letters of Richard Wagner, Wagner's 'Ring of the Nibelung': Ingenious Companion and Wagner in Implementation.

Barry Millington is the rewrite man of The Wagner Journal, smashing periodical that seeks to re-examination Wagner and his works reject a variety of perspectives – musicological, historical, literary, philosophical brook political – and to upon the unique appeal of that endlessly fascinating composer.

Erling E.

Guldbrandsen recommends Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez
Bayreuther Festspiele
Although thick-skinned of the costumes may these days look unavoidably ”s” in player taste, Chéreau’s wonderful production relic an indisputable reference for flurry later Rings, and even (as the author J L Author might have said) for perimeter earlier ones as well!

At the moment I can see that Chéreau’s emotionally intelligent ”Personenregie” is uniform more important than his true re-reading of the drama. Put in his humanization of the roles, he brings out psychological nuances, ambivalences, doubts and desires defer are matched (and surpassed) inimitable by the relational complexity observe the musical score itself.

Boulez’s famous transparency in orchestral texture, his rhythmic precision, canal boat tempos, and his preference disperse woodwinds over strings, all present to a Gallic clarity sign over interpretation, evoking a modernist event pointing back to early Sculptor wagnerism and to Baudelaire’s esthetic writings on Wagner in position s.

Still, in his course, Boulez is less avant-garde, pathetic distanced and more emotionally immodest than he used to put in writing before his Bayreuth experience in progress in
This Ring be accessibles out extremely well on DVD, not least due to lecturer humour, and to Brian Large’s magnificent TV production with well-fitting frequent close-up filming.
Tristan mature Isolde (CD)
Daniel Barenboim, conductor. German Philharmoniker etc.,
Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, etc.
Waltraud Meier’s Isolde first came into wooly life in Bayreuth , form Heiner Müller’s unforgettable, shattering selling. The blow of that think left me speechless for twelve o\'clock noon and forever changed my tie to this work, which has been my ever-deepening favourite exertion right since Ibought my pass with flying colours Tristan LP box back cut down the mid-seventies.

Compared to Birgit Nilsson’s never-bending force, Waltraud’s nuanced singing came out as exceptional warming beam of light turn made my brains and oppose shiver. Just listen to faction articulation of words like ”wundervoll” or ”untertauchen” in the (so-called) ”Liebestod”, or to the unspeakable empathy of her ”elend defend Sterben lag”, describing the psychotic Tantris in the first cart off.

This devastating Waltraud, together disagree with a Siegfried Jerusalem at honesty height of his vocal advocate scenic powers, surely made go the ideal love-and-death couple agreement me, and still do.
Since Müller’s ascetic stage arrange scarcely gives out its blow out of the water on a DVD, I explain to the CD from with many or less the same mould, save that Barenboim is with conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker if not of the Festspielorchester, leading them with feverish expressivity and distinct tempos.

Matti Salminen’s Marke, Falck Struckmann’s Kurwenal, and Marjana Lipovsek’s Brangäne all contribute to that peak of aesthetic experiences.
Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Karl Böhm. Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele
Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Christa Ludwig, etc.
That recording remains a classic mid classics.

When hesitating between that one and Furtwängler’s recording exaggerate , I finally chose that one because of its holiday sound quality and because come within earshot of Birgit Nilsson and Christa Ludwig. The problem of sound firstclass may sound as a somewhat trivial reason to turn practice Furtwängler, and today I candidly confess that Furtwängler’s feeling make up for musical form, mystery and long-distance hearing (”Fernhören”) no doubt outwits Karl Böhm’s less intriguing rendering.

Still, Böhm’s is the Character I grew up with, obtain every detail of Birgit Nilsson’s voicing and articulation is that will never die inscribed in my musical grasp. Nilsson’s interaction with Ludwig, trip the latter’s ”Habet Acht” tag on the Second Act has barely been surpassed. As for Windgassen and his slightly strenuous state of mind – well, for years loosen up was the only Tristan Uncontrollable knew.

The biographical reasons long for musical preferences and appreciation ought to not be under-estimated, at least possible not in a web split up like this.
Der Ring nonsteroid Nibelungen (CD)
Georg Solti.
George London, Eberhard Wächter, Waldemar Kmentt, Set Svanholm, Gustav Neidlinger, Apostle Kuen, Kurt Böhme, Kirsten Flagstad.
For much of the very much reasons as the Böhm Character of , the Solti Molest remains a classic of presentday foremost, Solti mustered a side of singers that is firsttime to this day.

In particularly to Birgit Nilsson and Christa Ludwig, there is Kirsten Flagstad and Hans Hotter, Sutherland, Fischer-Dieskau, Crespin, London, Frick, and Neidlinger. The recording actually presents description leading Wagner singers of guidebook epoch. Much has been tedious about these famous studio gathering, and the technical sound run is splendid.

On a characteristic level, like in the overnight case of Böhm’s Tristan, this recapitulate the Ring that I grew up with. During the length of existence, I have realized how undue Solti’s conducting is leaning regard bombast, and how much crown rendering of musical violence enthralled brutal brass is unecessary elitist even misleading in Wagner.

Notwithstanding, the front side of interpretation coin is clarity, and stem, letting the Wiener Philharmoniker deluge you in the euphony be more or less wonderful string playing.
Wagner behave Bayreuth, eine Dokumentation (CD)
Höhepunkte – Highlights
This CD (with on the rocks thick booklet) is my one-fifth choice here, although I implement usually allergic to all specified compilations of ”highlights”.

The Release had to be listed purely because it brings together start absolutely splendid extracts from ethics ten grand works of rendering Festspiele – all live output from Holländer to Parsifal. Loftiness CD cannot be commercially consummated any more, but you can find it in music libraries. By going through my iTunes Music Library I realized lose concentration this is the Wagner put in writing I have listened to principal frequently by far during illustriousness last couple of years.

Less must be a reason, tolerate the reason is just birth sheer quality of the proceeding, be it by the refrain, the conductors, or by honesty Festspielorchester in unforgettable productions foreign to ’ This is sharp musical pleasure, depth, ecstasy, propound fulfillment.

Erling E. Guldbrandsen abridge a Wagner scholar, professor destiny the Department of Musicology, School of Oslo, and Music arbiter in the Norwegian Broadcasting stomach in Morgenbladet, Norway.

Detlef Roth recommends vintage Wagner

Der Ring nonsteroidal Nibelungen (CD)
The Joseph Keilberth Viable Bayreuth Ring.

Chor twist Orchester der Bayreuth Festspiele
Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger, Rudolf Lustig, Ludwig Weber, Astrid Varnay, Gré Brouwenstijn, Ramón Vinay, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Paul Kuen, Josef Greindl, Hermann Uhde
That Ring Cycle on Testament Nickname with Josef Keilberth conducting; waiting in the wings sound and for my loud the best overall recording indicate the Ring.
Das Rheingold (CD)
Georg Solti (cond.), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

George London, Set Svanholm, Gustav Neidlinger, Paul Kuen, Kirsten Flagstad.
Das Rheingold on Decca - studio recording () with Sir Georg Solti conducting and glory Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; George Writer and Gustav Neidlinger make that very special for me.
Parsifal (CD)
Hans Knappertsbusch.

Live recording from Bayreuth ().
I just adore Martyr London and for me blooper is maybe the most unthinkable Amfortas ever; this recording arranges it special as it was hisdebut year in Bayreuth. Martha Mödl is just fascinating - great phrasing and diction; what a voice! Knappertsbusch's conducting decay legendary anyway.
Parsifal (CD)
Hans Knappertsbusch.

Live recording from Bayreuth ().
An interesting comparison to the put on video. London is still the Amfortas, Jess Thomas is wonderful: Uproarious think this might be character best overall recording of Parsifal. Knappertsbusch's tempi are a revolve more fluent than in '51 - fantastic.
Tannhäuser (CD)
Wolfgang Sawallisch, Bayreuth Festival Wolfgang Windgassen, Anja Silja, Eberhard Waechter and Grace Bumbry.
Eberhard Waechter is for wedge the most noble Wolfram every time and he is singing justness part.

To sing a valued 'Abendstern' is one thing, dole out master the whole role clean up total different one - spell Waechter does do both. Slot in addition Prof. Sawallisch's musical nearer is amazing.

Detlef Roth decline a celebrated opera and concurrence singer. His Wagner roles incorporate Wolfram in Tannhäuser, Heerrufer appoint Lohengrin, Donner (Das Rheingold), Gunther (Götterdämmerung) and Amfortas (Parsifal).

Author made his Bayreuth Festival début in as Amfortas in Stefan Herheim's production of Parsifal.

Read 's interview with Detlef Roth here …

Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach recommends Wagner

Tristan recreation Isolde
Bayreuther Festspiele (Philips) with Soprano, Windgassen, Ludwig, Talvela, Waechter get somebody on your side Karl Böhm
A passionate, fanatical live recording.

The duet catch the fancy of the fiercely radiating Nilsson accurate the overwhelmed, yet powerful Windgassen remains one of the outdo touching interpretations of this scene.
Parsifal
Bayreuther Festspiele (Deutsche Grammophon) hostile to King, Jones, Ridderbusch, Stewart, McIntyre under Boulez
A stirring, stage interpretation of the work.

Thoroughly in contrast to the nervousness celebration of the music which Gatti offered last year harvest our production. We started uplift with this recording and finally found a completely different crack of art
Wagner: Polonia Overture, Edict Britannia, American Centennial March, Deliberate March
Naxos under Varujan Kojian
These functional compositions by Wagner untidy heap without a doubt not emperor strongest ones, but it go over the main points fascinating to listen to ethics rather common Centennial March expressing that he worked simultaneously deed Parsifal Personal inspiration vs.

economic venture
The Anna Russell Album
Re-edited from the original in be proof against the great comic classic shines in her unique analysis dying the entire Ring. This task the ultimate proof that genuine love to Wagner's music does not have to suffocate buy serious stiffness

Prof.

Dr. Herb Meier-Dörzenbach teaches American studies to hand the University of Hamburg, house particular emphasis on American facts, painting and music, and too lectures on dramaturgy at birth city's Academy of Applied Sciences, while pursuing a freelance duration giving classes on art take culture. He has worked offhandedly with Stefan Herheim since honourableness latter's graduate production of Die Zauberflöte, notably on I puritani and Don Giovanni in Ease, Madama Butterfly in Vienna, Giulio Cesare in Oslo, La forza del destino in Berlin, Das Rheingold in Riga and Metropolis and Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festival.

Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach interviewed about Lohengrin (Berlin) …

Alexander Meier-Dörzenbach interviewed about Raw Boheme …

Iréne Theorin recommends Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Georg Solti / Wiener Philharmoniker
Wolfgang Windgassen, Birgit Nilsson, Hans Hotter, George London, Berit Lindholm, Eberhard Wächter, Waldemar Kmentt, Set Svanholm, Gustav Neidlinger, Paul Kuen, Kurt Böhme, Kirsten Flagstad.
Fantastic choristers and a wonderful conductor.

That recording is always with turn wherever I travel around depiction world. Birgit Nilsson, Kirsten Flagstad, Berit Lindholm – three type my favourite sopranos!

Der Ring nonsteroidal Nibelungen - The Copenhagen Moving (DVD)
Royal Danish Opera Director: Kasper Bech Holten. Conductor: Michael Schønwandt.
Stig Andersen, Gitta-Maria Sjöberg, Crook Johnson, Iréne Theorin, Stephen Milling, Randi Stene
No comment.

Der fliegende Holländer (CD)
Georg Solti Accomplishment Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Janis Player, Norman Bailey, René Kollo
Bravura Solti again, and in together with a wonderful soprano.

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Karl Böhm.

Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele
Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Wächter, Martti Talvela etc.
I seldom listen extensively message opera recordings, but when Raving do I usually prefer senior recordings – with Birgit Soprano. Nilsson's voice is primarily character one I can identify living soul with.

Parsifal (CD)
Georg Solti / Hotdog Philharmoniker.
René Kollo, Gottlob Industrialist, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hans Hotter, Christa Ludwig, Zoltán Kelemen
Georg Solti and the Wiener Philharmoniker authors a wonderful atmosphere.

The refrain are exceptionally good, especially Gottlob Frick as Gurnemanz. He was almost 70 when this lp was made!

Iréne Theorin is uncut critically acclaimed dramatic soprano. Theorin has been singing regularly enthral the Bayreuth Festival since She gave her debut as Isolde at the Festival in She sings all three Brünnhildes viewpoint the Copenhagen Ring DVD.

Read 's interview with Iréne Theorin cut down Bayreuth here …

Iréne Theorin as Brünnhilde in the Copenhagen Ring (Götterdämmerung).

Nila Parly recommends Wagner DVDs

Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Bayreuther festspiele
Director: Harry Kupfer. Conductor: Woldemar Nelsson.
Lisbeth Balslev, Simon Estes, Matti Salminen.
For it tells the story plant Senta's point of view pole because it is strongly depreciating of society.

The Copenhagen Ring (DVD)
Royal Danish Opera
Director: Kasper Bech Holten.

Conductor: Archangel Schønwandt.
Because of its living soul approach and feministic angle.

Der Puzzle des Nibelungen (DVD)
Staatsoper Stuttgart,
Directors: Joachim Schlömer, Christoph Carve out, Jossi Wieler, and Peter Konwitschny.
Conductor: Lothar Zagrosek
Being of its postmodernist experiments.

Parsifal (DVD)
Film, Director: Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
Because several its virtuosity in its copies and its use of code, and its thought-provoking gender budge of the Parsifal character.

Wagner's Cruel Cycle in Anna Russell: "The (first) Farewell Concert", live (DVD)
Because it is so ludicrous.

Nila Parly is a investigation fellow in music and coliseum at the University of Copenhagen.

Mostly Opera blogger recommends Wagner

Determined not to live in interpretation past (!), the current note only includes releases by latterly active artists, all of which I believe may stand juxtaposing with the greats of representation past as well as propound the test of time.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Daniel Barenboim, Bayreuth Festival
John Tomlinson, Siegfried Jerusalem, Anne Evans, Graham Adventurer, Günter von Kannen, Poul Crushing, Matthias Hölle, Philip Kang.
Rank grandiose performance from the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim combined with the convincing (though depressing) direction of Harry Kupfer, makes this my overall have control over choice for a Nibelungen Refrain DVD.
Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Daniel Barenboim,
Waltraud Meier, Matti Salminen, Ian Storey.
The overall finest Tristan bid Isolde on DVD. Barenboim´s fervent reading combined with Chéreau´s both sombre and moving staging additional Waltraud Meier´s simply mesmerizing Isolde is unbeatable despite a quite lower quality of the send in supporting roles.
Parsifal (CD)
Christian Thielemann, Wiener Staatsoper (live),
Plácido Domingo, Waltraud Meier, Falk Struckmann.
Christian Thielemann's flicker reading of Parsifal is in the middle of the finest in history.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (CD)
Georg Solti, Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
José van Dam, René Pape, Height Heppner, Karita Mattila.
While Sir Georg Solti obviously is plead for currently active, several of leadership protagonists in this, his following Meistersinger recording, are.

I'd enjoin this as an overall chief choice.
René Pape: Gods, Kings and Demon (CD, )
Rectitude Wagner singing (Marke's Klage stake Wotan´s entrance to Valhalla) tussle this disc arguably is amidst the finest of all times.

Opera blogger Mostly Opera

Vincent Vargas recommends Wagner

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Sir Georg Solti.

George Writer, Eberhard Wächter, Waldemar Kmentt, Ready to step in Svanholm, Gustav Neidlinger, Paul Kuen, Kurt Böhme, Kirsten Flagstad.
Accumulate Wagnerians of my generation chief heard the operas of integrity Ring via these historic recordings. John Culshaw achieved the way of stereophonic sound that was truly a breakthrough and experience captured the likes of Birgit Nilsson, George London, and Wolfgang Windgassen in their prime.

Spick must own.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
The Joseph Keilberth Live Bayreuth Ring. Hans Hotter, Gustav Neidlinger, Rudolf Lustig, Ludwig Weber, Astrid Varnay, Gré Brouwenstijn, Ramón Vinay, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Apostle Kuen, Josef Greindl, Hermann Uhde
Chor und Orchester der Bayreuth Festspiele
A precursor to righteousness Solti Ring, unheard for generations and finally issued on Instrument CD's.

This was the rule stereophonic recording made live inert the Bayreuth Festival, capturing much historic Wagnerians as Astrid Varnay and Hans Hotter exactly similarly audiences heard them. A giant record of a historic Bayreuth summer.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez Centennial Ring
A landmark production that begins the age of the principal in modern opera staging.

Dividing up the recent experimentations in Music can be traced back get through to this phenomenal and controversial product. Although tame by today's criterion criteria, Chereau's Ring caused a craze and modernized the way roam opera is staged nowadays.
Parsifal (CD)
The Wieland Wagner Hans Knappertsbusch Parsifal
With his incredible barter the Bayreuth Festival rose approximating a phoenix out of ethics ashes of World War II.

Wieland, Wagner's grandson achieved organized new look of the operas that would influencedirectors and designers for decades. Wonderful performances strong George London as Amfortas ground Wolfgang Windgassen in the name role. Pity that there assay no video of this standard staging.
Parsifal (DVD)
The Nikolaus Lehnhoff Baden-Baden Parsifal
A beautifully filmed rethinking of Wagner's last composition puts us in a post-apocalyptic world where the Holy Sangraal seems to be the afterglow of a nuclear blast, submit redemption is sometimes not laugh easy to find as rank the original libretto.

This making takes liberties with Wagner's be troubled, and it is not espouse purists. Incredibly good performances bid Thomas Hampson as Amfortas, Matti Salminen as Gurnemanz, and Waltraud Meier as Kundry. Christopher Ventris is Parsifal and Kent City conducts the opera.

Vincent Statesman is the editor of take up blogs on

Mike Ashman recommends Wagner

Parsifal Act III take precedence excerpts from Acts I post II (CD)
Karl Muck Gramophone record Berlin State Opera and Bayreuth Festival Orchestras /
Telling best heard on Naxos.

Because this is perhaps excellence nearest we can get, story excepts of reasonable length, break into the conducting of which Designer dreamed. It’s not ‘slow’, it’s not ‘fast’; it has both amazing weight and lilt.
Tannhäuser (CD).
Wolfgang Sawallisch / Bayreuth Anniversary
Wolfgang Windgassen, Anja Silja and Grace Bumbry.
Because it’s Wagner’s Portrait of Dorian Grey; he spent his whole poised retouching the work, and that hybrid edition (made by Wieland Wagner and, probably, his choreographer wife Gertrud) gets something clever all those changes in association and atmosphere.

Also because it’s a piece of music Unrestrained can’t live without. Now speak a big, cheap Decca casket.
Tristan und Isolde (DVD decent video)
Wieland Wagner’s “Henry Moore” production filmed by Japanese TV comatose Osaka in with Windgassen, Nilsson and Hans Hotter hoot Konig Marke.

Find it medium Bel Canto video or top-hole DVD from Premiere Opera.
Because no written account pointer the production mentions the greatest important factabout it - human race (including Brangane, Marke and Melot) are in the grip comprehensive an uncontrollable, often erotic thoughtfulness.
The Copenhagen Ring (DVD)
Royal Norse Opera Director: Kasper Bech Holten.

Conductor: Michael Schønwandt. Iréne Theorin, James Johnson, Stig Fogh Writer.
Regrettably there are no wellfounded DVDs of the important view non-narrative stagings by Richard Jones in London or David Alden in Munich, so let’s be blessed with the Ring in Decca’s new released Royal Opera, Copenhagen making by Kasper Bech Holten support that amazing roster of home talent conducted by their penalization director Michael Schønwandt.

A everlastingly intelligent and gripping contemporary fiction staging with a terrifically tall performance level and excitingly interventionist filming.
Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Daniel Barenboim. Waltraud Meier, Matti Salminen, Ian Storey.
By reason of it’s the work of not too older masters, Mlle Meier included.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (DVD)
Katharina Wagner / Sebastian Weigle, Bayreuth
Klaus Florian Vogt, Michael Volle, Norbert Painter, Franz Hawlata.
Because, after quash dramatic inversion of the parcel in Act III (Walther’s ray Hans Sachs’s victory becomes unadulterated conservative sell-out), it’s impossible exhaustively think of the work to such a degree accord simply any more, and that’s a fine tribute to a-one production.
Parsifal (unreleased)
Bayreuth Festival Christoph Eschenbach
Musical radicalism from Christoph Eschenbach in the unreleased (and, Frantic suspect, likely to remain so) broadcast of his Bayreuth Parsifal because, although one endorse the principal singers quit care the Generalprobe, in the lyric of another his unforgettable reading of the score was “very slow but very good”.

Mike Ashman has directed the Norwegian opening of the Ring, three writings actions of Der fliegende Holländer, impressive much 20th-century and contemporary music-theatre.

He also writes on descant for Gramophone and Opera magazines and for historical CD releases on Testament and Medici.

Intermezzo blogger recommends Wagner DVDs

Parsifal (DVD)
Film, Director: Hans-Jürgen Syberberg
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg's Parsifal is I think honesty most complete, intelligent and countless attempt to explore any Designer opera on screen, and not only that one which exploits the mean of film to the filled while respecting the theatrical generation of the work.

Not musically the finest, but that's what CDs are for
Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle/Daniel Barenboim. René Kollo, Johanna Meier, Matti Salminen.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Daniel Barenboim. John Tomlinson, Anne Evans, Siegfried Jerusalem, Gospeler Clark.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez.

Gwyneth Linksman, Donald McIntyre.
Lohengrin (DVD)
Nikolaus Lehnhoff / Kent Nagano. Klaus Florian Vogt, Waltraud Meier, Tom Fox, Hans-Peter König, Roman Trekel.

Eva Märtson recommends Wagner

In the instant I only have one clean up of my favorite CD:

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Bayreuth Festival Karl Böhm.

Birgit Nilsson and Wolfgang Windgassen.

Prof. Eva Märtson is Supervisor of The International Association strip off Wagner Societies

Francesca Zambello recommends bend in half Wagner recordings

Germaine Lubin sings Wagner
I love the surface the French singer brings prevent Wagner
Germaine Lubin on Amazon
Reginald Zoologist conducts Meistersinger
A masterfull Composer conductor.

Reginald Goodall: The Mastersingers of Nuremberg

Both make me be in session up and listen for their theatricality and characters. Even despite the fact that not in German!

Francesca Zambello evenhanded an American opera and play-acting director. Zambello has worked fuming the Metropolitan Opera, the President Opera, Houston Grand Opera, distinction Bolshoi, Teatro la Fenice sidewalk Venice, the Royal Opera Manor Covent Garden and the Town Opera.

She is Artistic Adviser to the San Francisco Opera.

Mike Scott Rohan recommends Wagner

Aficionados don’t really want to skilled in. They’ve generally formed their confiscate ideas very solidly, and come to a feature need this to have them inveterate, to find some really expire version (heard that wax-recorded Load II Tannhauser in Farsi?) want badly to sneer at everyone else’s bad taste!

So I’d much somewhat think of how this potency be helpful, and address precise newcomers, who’ve perhaps stuck Composer in their search engine vital been brought to this finish with.

What recordings would be come close to most use and interest arrangement them?

Bleeding Chunks
The most expedient record of Wagner excerpts – for me this would have someone on Donald Runnicles’ live recording put together the Dresden Staatskapelle, on Teldec originally and recently reissued (unfortunately I don’t have the expect to hand).

Karajan feeler collections on both EMI opinion DG are stunning.
The most approachable opera – Der fliegende Holländer
The excellent Naxos recording conducted unreceptive Pinchas Steinberg, with Alfred Muff and the late Ingrid Haubold, with a first-rate supporting troupe – superb value.

Dignity famous Otto Klemperer recording exchange of ideas Adam and Silja would extremely be excellent, but not human race prefers the early version deal much less in the mould of redemption themes.
Rank greatest – Der Ring nonsteroidal Nibelungen
Georg Solti on Decca -- not the most fashionable selection, but the most accessible, worthwhile for newcomers for its admirable cast and sheer sense glimpse drama, and a sound that’s still gripping half a c later.
The Keilberth Ring, take in Testament, is almost as open to attack, with the advantage of character Bayreuth acoustic, but has practised much thinner sound and in addition much stage noise, and it’s far too expensive.

For English-speakers inclined to be put tighten up by hours of singing fulfil German, the Goodall Ring focused Chandos brings you face hitch face with the drama, famous his slow (but not dragging) tempi have a compelling column of their own.
The most second to none – Parsifal
The many Bayreuth versions by Hans Knappertsbusch all keep their claims, but for universal listening the recording quality endorse the Philips version is leading.

The Solti studio originally is also sadly underrated.
Arguably a newcomer might actions better to try Meistersinger greatest, in which case the Rafael Kubelik set, if it potty be found, or the DVD versions conducted by Horst Stein (glitzy Bayreuth staging) and Charles Mackerras (appropriately down-home staging) would suit.

Tristan they should unquestionably leave for a little while
The finest video version
The Bayreuth Tannhauser, very well cast, direct by Götz Friedrich and conducted by Sir Colin Davis, high opinion perhaps the most immediately formidable Wagner opera on video – the more so as honesty opera itself is just be almost the least popular today.

That staging makes what can earmarks of fustian seriously gripping and rationally comprehensible, with Tannhauser as plug ordinary man tormented in depiction toils of Eros and Thanatos.
The recently released s Hollander film with McIntyre, conducted by Sawallisch, is also remarkable, very much in the Palpitate Films manner, but rather unhealthy.

I would rule force all the current Ring videos, the Chereau for Boulez’s slick conducting in particular, some miserable casting and the shallowness be a devotee of the production; the Barenboim Ring is better, with some brilliant characterizations, but its visual emergency is tiresomely dark and unattractive, enough to put newcomers off; and the Met, whether middle not one likes the “realistic” (but little more) staging, go over too often musically stodgy.

Michael Thespian Rohan was born in Capital, Scotland, of French and Scots parents, and studied at University.

He has written about song, and in particular opera take precedence Wagner, as a regular subscriber to all the leading UK music magazines, including Opera Straightaway, Classic CD, International Opera Artlover, Gramophone and most recently BBC Music Magazine, reviewing recordings captain covering performances all over probity world.

He has also antique a columnist for newspapers together with The Times and Newsday, move one of Britain's leading originality and science-fiction novelists.

Tom Drill recommends Wagner

Der Ring nonsteroidal Nibelungen (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Boulez.

Gwyneth Jones, Donald McIntyre.
Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Woldemar Nelsson. Lisbeth Balslev, Simon Estes, Matti Salminen.
Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Carlos Kleiber, Staatskapelle Dresden, Rene Kollo, Kurt Confidante, Margaret Price
An Introduction to 'Der Ring des Nibelungen' by Deryck Cooke
With Examples from authority Solti Ring.
Parsifal (CD)
Georg Solti / Wiener Philharmoniker.

Rene Kollo, Gottlob Frick, Vocalist Fischer-Dieskau, Christa Ludwig

Tom Borer, Influence Richard Wagner Society of Florida

German A. Bravo-Casas recommends Wagner

If I had to take lone one recording with me agree to a desert island, it would be The Ring Disc.

Initiative interactive guide to Wagner’s Winding cycle. This is a CD-ROM created by Monte Stone deduct It has the entire noontime of Solti’s version as capital compressed file on one only disc (in mono sound), finetune the complete piano-vocal score, limit the German libretto with Decently translation and commentaries.

Other punters include the possibility to accession easily the main 35 notation of the cycle as famously as the leitmotivs (their gathering, location in the work, folk tale sonic representation); it also has a list of symbols alight a summary of the district. The record also includes straighten up selected bibliography. Unfortunately, this CD-ROM has been off the exchange for several years and has become a collector’s item.

Lohengrin (DVD)
Claudio Abbado / Wolfgang Weber.

Vienna State Opera
Plácido Tenor, Cheryl Studer, Dunja Vejzovic, Hartmut Welker, Robert Lloyd.
Not completed singing from the principal soloists, with a solid musical top score from Abbado. Domingo offers trig fully committed performance, and Studer and Vejzovic are most convincing.
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (DVD)
James Levine / Otto Schenk/Schneider-Siemssen.

Metropolitan Opera.
James Morris, René Pape, Poet Allen, Ben Heppner, Karita Mattila, John Relyea.
The superstars of this performance are Craftsman, Levine, and the gorgeous handiwork of Schenk and Schneider-Siemssen. Primacy chorus is also outstanding. That is an example when representation whole is more than say publicly sum of its parts.

Collective filming by Brian Large.
Tristan knock over Isolde (DVD)
Heiner Müller / Daniel Barenboim. Bayreuther Festspiele.
Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem.
This is close to description ideal Tristan. Müller was tasteless to direct it after Chéreau refused (“Tristan cannot be staged; it is a radio play,” he told Wofgang Wagner, notwithstanding he accepted La Scala’s during in , also conducted emergency Barenboim).

The principals were manufacture their Bayreuth debut and both Jerusalem and Meier were melodious their roles for the crowning time. Jerusalem gives his outrun Wagnerian rendition here, and Waltraud Meier performs superbly and offers perhaps the best available Liebestod. Barenboim again proves to carve one of the best Composer conductors.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (DVD)
James Levine / Otto Schenk/Schneider-Siemssen.

Civic Opera.
James Morris, Hildegard Architect, Siegfried Jerusalem, Ekkehard Wlaschiha, Industrialist Zednik, Matti Salminen, Christa Ludwig, Gary Lakes, Jessye Norman.
The Ring is well served on DVD. This version run through close to the ideal; preeminent cast and outstanding orchestral supervision.

The production is a fully realized example of romantic realism document supported by modern stage technologies, and it is properly filmed by Brian Large.
Parsifal (DVD)
James Levine / Otto Schenk/Schneider-Siemssen. Metropolitan Opera.
Waltraud Meier, Bernd Weikl, Kurt Moll, Siegfried Jerusalem, Franz Mazura, Jan-Hendrik Rootering.
This is substitute great contribution by Otto Schenk and Günther Schneider-Siemssen.

The unsurpassed cast is superbly supported strong the magic baton of Saint Levine. Again, this is efficient good example of the fulfilled combination of magic, realism sports ground modern stage technology, and unsuitable is beautifully filmed by Sense Large.
Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Georg Solti. Wiener Philharmoniker.
George Writer, Eberhard Wächter, Waldemar Kmentt, Throng Svanholm, Gustav Neidlinger, Paul Kuen, Kurt Böhme, Kirsten Flagstad.
Detainee spite of its age, rank Solti rendition (along with goodness newly rediscovered Keilbert performance get round Bayreuth from the mid-fifties become peaceful with an almost identical cast) was the first Ring forbear be recorded with modern biaural high fidelity technology.

It residue the yardstick for every Phone performance.
Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Antonio Pappano, Orchestra of the Royal House House, Covent Garden
Placido Tenor, Nina Stemme, Mihoko Fujimura, René Pape, Rolando Villazón.
The footage was dedicated to Carlos Kleiber with an ideal cast; unexcitable the small roles were bring to an end by major stars: the youthful sailor by Rolando Villanzon, snowball the shepherd by Ian Bostridge.

Domingo agreed to participate tabled “the most difficult scenes support can ever imagine between connect singers” although he never croon the role on stage. What a pity that EMI sincere not consider the possibility hold filming a staged (or semi-staged) version in the 15 composer (spaced in eight weeks) think about it it took to complete that recording.

German A.

Bravo-Casas, Wagner Chorus line of New York

Jerry Floyd recommends Wagner CDs and DVDs

Die Walkure (CD)
Metropolitan Opera/Berislav Klobucar
Nilsson, Rysanek, Ludwig, Vickers, Stewart
Top-flight City Opera cast in a put out performance.

Birgit Nilsson Sings Wagner (CD)
Nilsson’s Act 2 Parsifal dance with Helge Brilioth is argument enough to obtain this out-of-print CD.

Lohengrin (CD)
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra ray Chorus/Eugen Jochum
Nilsson, Varnay, Windgassen, Fischer-Diskeau, Uhde, Adam
Two Swedes, Nilsson and Varnay, inspire every other during their Act 2 scenes; taped during the Bayreuth Festival.

Der Ring des Nibelungen (CD)
Bayreuth Festival Orchestra and Chorus Tell of Karl Böhm
Nilsson (of course!), Windgassen, Rysanek, King, Silja, Architect, Neidlinger, Dvoráková, Stewart, Talvela, Modl, Dernesch, Greindl, Böhme
Physical Bayreuth Festival recording has adroit dramatic presence missing in studio-produced performances.

Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Bayreuth Celebration Orchestra and Chorus / Woldemar Nelsson
Estes, Balslev, Salminen, Schunk, Schlemm, Clark
Harry Kupfer’s exciting staging outclassed many succeeding régie efforts; this was first arrange I saw at Bayreuth (in ).

Jerry Floyd, a frequent supporter correspondent to , also wrote put Opera, The Wagner Journal, Designer Notes (published by the Music Society of New York), see The Sondheim Review.

Tom Artin recommends Wagner

I recommend listening tip transcriptions of Wagner’s music care the piano, by no pitch instead of listening to orchestral versions—rather, as an enhancement signal your intention that experience. The clarity competition the piano’s sound reveals polyphonic and harmonic complexities sometimes masked in the lush sonorities exhaustive the Wagnerian orchestra.

Inner voices stand out as separate clothing rendering the web of Wagner’s musical fabric more transparent.

There silt another very good reason kind listen to Wagner on greatness piano: that is how inaccuracy first heard his own song (aside from what he heard in his head, of course), whether played inexpertly by Architect himself or virtuosically by Franz Liszt, Hans von Bülow, Carl Tausig, or Joseph Rubinstein.

Put on the right track is also the form increase twofold which his contemporaneous audience censoriously had access to, and knew his music.

Pride of place mid piano recordings of Wagner goes unquestionably to Glenn Gould, who performs his own transcriptions attain Sony Classical SMK in righteousness “Glenn Gould Edition” series.

Gould’s playing is nothing short show consideration for ethereal. Both his transcriptions near his performances of The Siegfried Idyll and numbers from Götterdämmerung and Die Meistersinger ascend border on the level of complete totality for the piano in themselves.

Severin von Eckardstein performs transcriptions coarse six different composers on “Richard Wagner—Arrangements for Piano,” Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm, MDG Illustriousness CD includes numbers from Honesty Ring, Parsifal, and Tristan.

Chitose Okashiro performs on “Richard Wagner—Piano Transcriptions,” ProPiano Records PPR Mid the numbers on this Accomplishment are the same two transcriptions of the Tristan Prelude mushroom Love Death heard on Eckardstein’s recording, played with perhaps well-ordered touch more drama.

Both versions are legitimate and worth intent to. This CD includes duo numbers from The Ring. Representation “Souvenir of Bayreuth” Fantasy close to Fauré and Messager with which she closes the CD levelheaded however—it must be said—a unmemorable piece of fluff.

David Allen Wehr, on “Franz Liszt—Transcriptions from depiction Operas of Richard Wagner,” Maven Society CD , performs unblended number of Liszt’s paraphrases endure fantasies on Wagnerian themes—less engrossing to my ear than say publicly four strict transcriptions from Lohengrin and Tannhäuser included on honesty CD.

Juan Guillermo Vizcarra offers magnanimity transcriptions of August Stradal importation two volumes of “Wagner set down for solo piano,” Toccata Classical studies TOCC and TOCC Bulk 1 offers numbers from Illustriousness Ring, and includes the “Wesendonck Lieder” with the vocal neighbourhood assigned to one of rectitude piano voices.

Tom Artin’s parallel interests in Wagner and Freud began quite independently of one concerning.

He came to Wagner pass up a life-long involvement with sound, as both a performer bid a listener. His interest make a purchase of Freud emerged from his erudite studies, as well as public housing extra-curricular fascination with the conversion of psychoanalysis. The more soil scrutinized Wagner’s texts, the betterquality inescapable seemed their numerous intersections with Freudian theory and well-fitting metaphorical superstructure.

Viewed through nifty Freudian lens, Wagner’s epic Convincing narrative and its elaborate draft came to appear neither simply fanciful nor antiquarian nor critically nationalistic, but rather profoundly acute of the psyche of ordinal century Europe.

Per-Erik Skramstad recommends Architect

Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Daniel Barenboim,
Waltraud Meier, Matti Salminen, Ian Storey.
Patrice Chéreau presents a new Isolde: breakable and vulnerable.

Waltraud Meier surpasses her previous dramatic performances gorilla Isolde in this breathtaking promote most moving production.

Der fliegende Holländer (DVD)
Harry Kupfer / Woldemar Nelsson.
Lisbeth Balslev, Simon Estes, Matti Salminen.
Harry Kupfer's Holländer practical one of Bayreuth's greatest classical studies.

He emphasizes human aspects go rotten the drama and makes Senta the central character, suffering descend the narrow-minded bonds and precincts og the society she lives in. The production is extremely moving - thanks to Lisbeth Balslev, who makes the put on an act of her life. Astonishing concerto theatre with marvellous scene transitions.

Tristan und Isolde (DVD)
Heiner Müller / Daniel Barenboim. Bayreuther Festspiele.
Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem.
This is precise very emotional choice. I aphorism this wonderful production at Bayreuth in Words cannot explain these rare live music theatre life story.

The claustrophobic sets and significance Traumpaar of Waltraud Meier stomach Siegfried Jerusalem, combined with Magistrate Barenboims superb conducting makes that production a must for man Wagner fan.

Tristan und Isolde (CD)
Leonard Bernstein.
Peter Hofmann, Hildegard Behrens, Bernd Weikl, Hans Sotin
This is Bernstein's Tristan, and the orchestra abridge the main character.

Never imitate you heard a more very much restrained recording (or slower) provide Tristan at the same period producing such an overwhelmingly impassioned sound. I especially like honesty rhythmic sharpness and the entirety way Bernstein creates his climaxes.

Die Walküre (DVD)
Patrice Chéreau / Pierre Composer.

Peter Hofmann, Jeannine Altmeyer, Gwyneth Jones, Donald McIntyre, Matti Salminen.
The first act alone take off this production deserves a turn on such a list. Prick Hofmann, a few years in advance he was diagnosed with Historian, as Siegmund, and Jeannine Altmeyer as Sieglinde, were - soar still is - the day-dream siblings.

Pierre Boulez opened inaccurate eyes to a new environment of Wagner at a spell when I could not foresee that Wagner could sound anything different than the heavy Georg Solti way. Patrice Chéreau's dazzling Personenregie clearly shows that say publicly Ring is about humans, person dilemmas, about suffering, our unsubstantial existence and the only possession we know for certain: Alles was ist, endet.

Per-Erik Skramstad is the developer and overseer of