Search - Richard [Classical] Wagner, Bernard Haitink, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra :: Wagner: The Ring of the Nibelungen (Highlights)

Perfect Car-tune

11/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this cd last weekend, as I wished to have something for my new car's stereo to chew upon, some meat, let's say. This cd is perfect for testing the full sonic range of one's car stereo, or home audio system. If you love Wagner, as I do, this is a very, very nice addition to one's collection. It focuses upon the essential highlights of the Ring, and is a nice intro- duction to the Wagner masterpiece. The opening E-flat is one of the best interpretations that I have heard, and it carries you along musically at just the right touch of sound. Never brassy, just full-on use of all that the full orchestra has to offer.Not forgetting the singers, it very nicely highlights the cast assembled. my only quibble, albeit a monor one, is Studer's in- terpretation of Sieglinde. It seemed a mite off, like she was reading the script, not full-blooded. Buy this cd-you won't regret it. Good for a beginner, and a nice rounder-outer for an advanced audio-hound. It's a rousing, full- tilt intro to the Ring, and I am very glad that I purchased it."

Asleep at the wheel

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 09/27/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"EMI took a big risk having Haitink conduct a complete Ring since he had never conducted Wagner in the opera house. He turned out to be disappointing all around, with no special insights and a tendency to underplay the most famous orchestral moments. We can mercifully skip over his adequate-to-dismal cast, as even this budget CD of excerpts barely manages to catch them in good form. Only the Barenboim set has worse singers, and that's debatable."