Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Anne Evans :: Wagner: Die Walküre (Highlights)

Great Recording!!!

Dennis A. Brown | Davenport, FL | 10/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought "Die Walkure: Highlights" before Unitel released 1991-1992 Bayreuth Ring Festival on DVD. I was so blown away when I listened to this CD that I prayed to God that it would be released on DVD. My joy when it was! In my opinion the 1991-1992 Bayreuth Festival is the best Ring available on DVD right now. That being said, you must have "Die Walkure: Highlights" for your mp3 player and car CD player. The sound qaulity is awesome ( Hello! It's Bayreuth! ). The casting is equally wonderful. Poul Elming as Siegmund is a sonic and vocal wonder. His voice is equally effective when Siegmund is determined and when he character is gentle and reflective. Also, Elming's voice projection is amazing. There is great chemistry between Siegmund and Sieglinde. Want to hear the most amazing Ride of the Valkyries? This is it! Want to blow your friends away? Get some big speakers with sub-woofers, play this Ride of the Valkyries and they won't know what hit them. What about Brunnhilde? Well, the most obvious weakness of the 1990 Met Ring cycle is who plays Brunnhilde-Hildegard Behrens. The Brunnhilde of our times maybe, but so past her prime in 1990. No such problem here! Anne Evans is right on as Brunnhilde and in he prime of her career! The appereance of the Valkyrie to Siegmund on tracks 9 and 10 will give you chills and rouse your imagination. What about Daniel Barenboim as conductor? He has excellent command of the orchestra and conducts the way I believe Wagner would approve. Barenboim is my favorate Wagner conductor.



The last thing I write deals with John Tomlinson as Wotan. When I listened to the first part of this CD, I did not think it could get any better. I WAS WRONG! I cannot descibe with my command of the english language what I felt when I heared Wotan's Farewell for the first time on this CD. I was completely blown away and in awe! I ought to myself-"That's the Wotan of our generation!!! That's the way Wotan should sound!". When I heard this Wotan's Farewell I completely stopped what I was doing and did not move for 15 minutes. Needless to say, Tomlinson is my favorate Wotan.

To my beloved fellow Wagnerites I would like to give a loud "Hojotoho!Hojotoho!" shout out. I hope this review is helpful to all interested."